3,000 more security personnel deployed for Amarnath yatra

SRINAGAR: Keeping in mind the last year’s deadly militant attack on pilgrims and the current fragile situation in mind, nearly 3,000 additional Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and policemen are being deployed in the Kashmir region this year to ensure a peaceful Amarnath yatra beginning on June 28.

Amarnath pilgrims, accompanied by security men, proceed towards the holy cave shrine. File photo

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 12

Keeping in mind the last year’s deadly militant attack on pilgrims and the current fragile situation in mind, nearly 3,000 additional Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and policemen are being deployed in the Kashmir region this year to ensure a peaceful Amarnath yatra beginning on June 28.

Though there is no “specific input about any possible attack on the yatra”, security forces are, however, taking no chances and have decided to increase the CAPF deployment from 181 companies in 2017 to 213 companies this year. Similarly, the number of J&K Armed Police battalions/IRP companies has been increased from 23 to 32 from the previous year.

“With the additional 41 companies this year nearly 20,000 CAPF and policemen will be securing the annual yatra in Kashmir,” a senior security official said.

While the CRPF performs a major role in the conduct of the yatra, the Army will sanitise the upper reaches en route the cave shrine.

According to a security official, the highest number of deployment will be made in Anantnag district in south Kashmir followed by Ganderbal district in central Kashmir. Last year on July 10, a bus carrying Amarnath yatris was attacked by suspected militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Anantnag district, killing eight pilgrims and injuring 19 others.

The challenges for the security forces are manifold to ensure a safe yatra.

“The yatra passes through three sensitive and volatile south Kashmir districts. There is also a high concentration of militants in these districts and new recruits may target the yatra deployment for weapon-snatching,” the officer said. “Besides the threat of IEDs are always there. But we are geared up for all challanges.”

Inspector General, CRPF Srinagar Sector, Ravideep Singh Sahi said adequate arrangements were in place for the yatra and induction of forces had begun.

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