Deployment to be completed by June 25
NHs, rail track to attract heightened security
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 28: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in consultations with the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to deploy 670 paramilitary companies for this year’s 57-day-long Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage beginning July 3 and lasting till August 28.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
This is the highest number of companies being deployed for the pilgrimage as yatra this year is lasting nearly two months and the Central Government doesn’t want to take any chances with security arrangements as large number of pilgrims from across the country are expected to have darshan of holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Union Home Ministry in consultations with top brass security in Jammu and Kashmir has finalized security arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage.
“It has been decided that 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be deployed from Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir up to the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas including base camps of Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal, Yatri Niwas Jammu from where the convoy originates daily in the morning; Pathankot-Jammu and Jammu-Srinagar National Highways and all important twin yatra tracks besides other places and locations covered by the pilgrims,’’ the sources said.
Additional paramilitary companies will start reaching the UT by early June and entire deployment will be in place on or before June 25 i.e. around a week ahead of start of annual pilgrimage.
Army will also man certain heights along the yatra track including Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine located in South Kashmir Himalayas besides some parts of the National Highways.
“Jammu and Kashmir Police will also play a major role in security arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage,’’ the sources said, adding the deployment of paramilitary companies and police will be made in such a way that routine anti-terror operations are not hampered.
Focus is on security arrangements for twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari besides the holy cave shrine. A plan has already been devised in different security review meetings in Jammu and Kashmir. The base camps of Baltal, Nunwan and Yatri Niwas Jammu will also attract maximum possible security. Besides the Road Opening Parties (ROPs), regular patrols are scheduled for the National Highway by paramilitary forces and local police.
“The Jammu-Srinagar railway track will also attract heightened security arrangements as many pilgrims are expected to travel to Srinagar via Vande Bharat Express trains. Presently, two trains are running between Jammu and Srinagar and possibility of the number going up during the yatra is not ruled out,’’ the sources said.
Already elaborate security arrangements have been made on Jammu-Srinagar railway track via Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Qazigund but they will be further enhanced ahead of the pilgrimage.
It may be mentioned here that over 3.5 lakh yatris have been registered for this year’s annual Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage since the registration started on 550 designated bank branches on April 15 this year, till last week and the number is going up.
The 57 days long annual yatra will start on July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal-Sonamarg and Nunwan-Pahalgam and will culminate on August 28, the day coinciding with Sawan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
Besides, the Punjab National Bank (PNB), the registration of Yatris is being done by the designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India and Yes Bank all over India.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
