Nearly 70 pc addl companies deployed in Valley
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior officers of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs today reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially in the wake of upcoming annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji beginning June 30 for which arrangements are in full swing, in the Union Capital.
While no official statement was issued on review of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley where a number of militants including top commanders have been killed during past few days, sources said the NSA met top officials of the Union Home Ministry including those dealing with Jammu and Kashmir and had detailed review of situation with them.
Security review meeting lasted an hour.
A series of security review meetings have been held by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the recent past on situation developing in the Valley in the wake of targeted killings and security arrangements required to be made for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine.
Shri Amarnath yatra this year will last 43 days from June 30 to August 11.
“Presently, security situation is well under control. There has been no major attack or targeted killing by the militants. Instead, number of militants including Pakistanis and top commanders have been killed in the Valley,” sources pointed out saying the Central as well as Jammu and Kashmir Governments are satisfied with the situation after surge in targeted killings but want the present trend to be maintained to ensure that violence is not revived ahead of Shri Amarnath Ji yatra.
The Union Home Ministry has deputed 350 additional companies of paramilitary forces to Jammu and Kashmir for security of the pilgrims.
“Most of these companies have arrived in the UT. Nearly 70 percent of them are being deployed in Kashmir and 30 percent in Jammu,” sources said, adding that additional manpower from Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) and other available resources are also being deployed for yatra security.
Asserting that there have been genuine security concerns as far as pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji shrine this year is concerned, sources said, all vulnerable areas in Jammu and Kashmir will remain under drone surveillance while anti-drone mechanism is being installed at selected places.
“Anti-drone mechanism will be installed at the places which are under range of drones from Pakistan’s International Border,” sources said, adding all such places have been identified but their names have been kept secret.
Installation of the anti-drone mechanism is on and it will be in place well ahead of start of annual pilgrimage from June 30.
In Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, at least seven places have been identified for installation of anti-drone mechanism.
A decision has also been taken on deployment of Army on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam, Baltal, twin yatra tracks and the cave shrine, sources said.
As already reported, all yatra vehicles and yatris will be given Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to monitor their movement.
The Government is expecting at least eight lakh pilgrims during annual yatra this year.
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