Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 26: Union Home Secretary LC Goyal will hold high level review of security arrangements for annual pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji on June 28 and 29 in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, and visit some parts of traditional Chandanwari track in Pahalgam in Anantnag district. He will also review general security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with top brass of all security agencies including police and civil administration.
Goyal will be in Kashmir for two days on June 28 and 29 holding security reviews, visiting base camps of Amarnath ji shrine, traditional track of Chandanwari and meeting top brass of civil and police administration and issuing direction for ensuring peaceful 59 days long Amarnath ji pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas beginning July 2.
Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra told the Excelsior that all arrangements for Amarnath ji yatra were completed last evening, the deadline set by the police and other security agencies.
“Deployment of all security agencies including Army, para-military forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police etc was in place. The tracks were ready. Security was on high alert at the National Highways of Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar, all base camps and twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari,” Rajendra said.
Official sources said the Union Home Secretary will chair security review meeting of top officers of Army, para-military forces including BSF and CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration and all other agencies engaged in making security and other arrangements for Amarnath yatra in Srinagar soon after his arrival on June 28.
He will be briefed by heads of security agencies and civil administration on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with particular reference to Shri Amarnath ji yatra.
“In addition to Shri Amarnath ji yatra, the Union Home Secretary will also review internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, presence of militants in the hinterland, anti-infiltration measures on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) and arrangements made for safety and security of border people,” sources said.
After night halt in Srinagar, Goyal will visit base camps of Amarnath ji shrine at Nunwan, Pahalgam and fly to various other points on traditional track of Chandanwari the next day along with senior officers of the State administration for on spot review of security and other arrangements for the pilgrims.
The Union Home Secretary is likely to meet Governor NN Vohra, who happened to be chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and discuss security situation and Amarnath yatra arrangements with them.
Only a day before i.e. on June 24, two top officers of Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had met DGP K Rajendra and reviewed security arrangements for Amarnath yatra. They included Special Secretary (Internal Security) Ashok Prasad and Joint Secretary (Kashmir) MHA Rajit Punhani.
Goyal was scheduled to hold high level review of security scenario of Jammu and Kashmir on June 16 in New Delhi along with top police officials of the State including Home Secretary RK Goyal, the DGP and Additional DGP (Police Headquarters) Dr Shesh Pal Vaid.
However, the meeting was cancelled as the State officer couldn’t fly to New Delhi due to damage caused to runway at Srinagar airport leading to cancellation of some flights.
Sources said both the tracks have been cleared of snow by the authorities well ahead of start of the yatra and all other arrangements like deployment of security forces, sanitization of track by sniffer dogs and other means, establishments of base camps etc have been completed.
“Army has taken over the heights of the holy cave shrine while para-military forces and police have been deployed in adequate strength on traditional Chandanwari and shorter Baltal tracks, forward base camps at Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Ganderbal, Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu and National Highways from Lakhanpur to Srinagar,” sources said.
Goyal had visited Jammu and Kashmir for three days including the International Border on his maiden visit to the State after takeover as the Union Home Secretary from April 9 to 11.
The MHA has given about 70 companies of para-military forces for peaceful conduct of yatra from July 2 to August 29.
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