Patrolling along Amarnath yatra routes to remain in place till late hours: MoS

SRINAGAR: Asserting that the Amarnath yatra will continue with ‘renewed vigour’, MoS for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said security apparatus along the yatra routes would be stepped up in the evening hours.

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 12

Asserting that the Amarnath yatra will continue with ‘renewed vigour’, MoS for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said security apparatus along the yatra routes would be stepped up in the evening hours.

“All arrangements for a safe and secure yatra will continue with renewed vigour….in view of the attack, patrolling will remain in place till late night. ROP (road opening party) will remain in place (for extended duration)…this decision has been taken,” Ahir told reporters here on Wednesday.

He made the comments in the wake of Monday evening’s militant attack at Botengoo in South Kashmir that left seven Amarnath pilgrims dead.

Ahir, along with MoS in the Prime Minister’s office Jitender Singh, had arrived here on Tuesday to take stock of the security situation and held meetings with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

He said the security apparatus had been put on the ‘highest alert’ and said they had also met the top security forces officials to prevent similar attacks and to “remove the shortcomings”.

Both the ministers lauded the role of the civil society in Kashmir for condemning the attack on pilgrims.

“I congratulate the civil society….the attack was condemned in one voice…there was no selective condemnation,” said Singh.

He said the militancy in the Valley was in its last phase. “We are now in the last phase of militancy,” Singh said.

When asked about the possible security lapses that led to the killing of pilgrims, Singh said the inquiry into the incident was on and the matter should be left to the “wisdom of the security experts”. Last word must come from the security experts, he said.

On Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on “permanent solution” to resolve Kashmir issue, Singh maintained that it meant that the “terror will finally meet its end”.

He avoided a direct answer to the question whether the Centre would initiate talks with the Hurriyat or other stakeholders to resolve the Kashmir issue. He maintained the party stand that Kashmir was an integral part of India.