Special Cell to monitor deployment
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 5: With 300 companies of para-military forces already staying in Jammu and Kashmir after successful conduct of Lok Sabha elections, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to give nod to deployment of about 200 more companies for upcoming annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine, beginning July 1 and lasting 46 days.
A Special Cell is being constituted within the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to monitor arrangements for the yatra even as Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba is scheduled to visit Kashmir to himself review security arrangements for the pilgrimage, which have been reviewed recently by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir has projected the demand for about 200 more companies of para-military forces including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for deployment in the State including the National Highways from Pathankot to Srinagar, base camps and twin yatra tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari.
“As yatra security was prime concern of the Central Government, the Home Ministry isn’t averse to conceding demand of Jammu and Kashmir and is likely to dispatch the para-military companies to the State shortly as deployment of security forces for yatra security will start on June 15, about 15 days ahead of start of the yatra,” sources said.
The Union Home Ministry had deployed 300 additional companies of para-military forces including CRPF, ITBP and SSB in Jammu and Kashmir for smooth conduct of five-phase general elections in the State, which concluded on May 6. The MHA had conceded request of the State Government to allow additional companies given for the elections to stay put in the State for yatra security.
While these 300 companies are still camping in the State, the likely arrival of more companies sought by the State would meet requirement of the security agencies for yatra security, which this year would last 46 days, beginning July 1 on the occasion of Masik Shivratri and concluding on August 15 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.
The Home Ministry is setting up a Special Cell in the MHA to coordinate with security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir on deployment of para-military forces for yatra security as well as other arrangements for the pilgrims.
Sources disclosed that Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba is also scheduled to visit Kashmir shortly to review personally the security arrangements for the pilgrimage.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who had visited Kashmir on June 3 for review of security situation in the State, had also taken brief on security arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji yatra from the senior Army Commanders. Army, it may be mentioned, is being deployed to man heights of both Chandanwari and Baltal tracks and the shrine areas. Troops will also be deployed at some places on the National Highways along with para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
In addition to Army and para-military forces, sources said, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police personnel are also being deployed in good numbers for the yatra security at different places.
“Adequate security will be in place for the yatra,” they added.
Sources said Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) and security agencies have prepared a “detailed plan” to ensure that all pilgrims who register for the yatra are given the barcoded authority slips that will contain their vital details, photographs and contact numbers.
All security challenges will be taken care of and any input or concern vis-a-vis security will be worked upon by all the stakeholders in the State Government and the Centre, they said.
According to sources, the yatra slips will be triplicate, one each for the Shrine Board, pilgrim and for handing over to security staff enroute.
Keeping in the mind the security challenges that emerged after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, the CRPF has also deployed an enhanced number of its counter-IED teams that will sweep roads and vehicles against such threats.
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