JAMMU: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the deployment of 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for security arrangements during this year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra. The pilgrimage to the cave shrine where an ice lingam is formed naturally every year, is scheduled to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28 (Raksha Bandhan, Shravan Purnima), according to officials involved in making arrangements for the yatra.
More than 3.5 lakh pilgrims have registered for the pilgrimage since the process began on April 15 through designated bank branches across the country, officials said. Keeping trends of the past few years into account, it seems likely that the yatra may cross 5,00,000 (5 lakh) mark easily.
The deployment would be the highest-ever for the annual pilgrimage and has been planned in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir administration and various security agencies. Over the past few years, there have been significant improvement in the facilities available to the pilgrims. Due to this and better handling of the yatra by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine has been on the rise. Basically, these rising numbers are responsible for higher deployment for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
The CAPF personnel will be deployed along the entire pilgrimage route, from Lakhanpur, considered the entry point of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir, to the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas. Security cover be provided along both the Baltal (Ganderbal) and Pahalgam (Anantnag in south Kashmir) routes, Baltal and Nunwan base camps, Yatri Niwas Jammu, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other key transit points.
Additional Halt Points Activated
For the convenience of yatris, some holding points have been designated along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to accommodate pilgrims in the event of disruption in yatra due to inclement weather. Some langar points along the yatra route are also used as halting points in case of emergencies. There is security deployment at these places also.
Additional paramilitary forces are expected to start arriving in J&K in the first week of June, while the deployment process is likely to be completed by June 25, officials said. During the summer vacations in the Jammu region, which start from June 8 (June 6, Saturday, being the last working day), several school buildings are also kept reserved for the security forces.
The Indian Army will secure strategic heights along the yatra routes and areas around the cave shrine, while Jammu and Kashmir Police will coordinate security operations during the pilgrimage. Officials said the security arrangements have been planned in a way that anti-terror operations across the UT remain unaffected.
Baltal, Pahalgam Routes
Special focus will remain on the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, the cave shrine and major transit camps. Road Opening Parties (ROPs), area domination patrols and surveillance along highways will also be intensified, they said.
Security along the Jammu-Srinagar railway corridor has also been strengthened in view of the expected increase in pilgrims travelling by Vande Bharat trains. Areas including Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Qazigund will remain under heightened vigil during the yatra.
The 57-day pilgrimage will commence simultaneously from the Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam routes on July 3 and conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Sawan Purnima.
