Jyeshtha Krushna Dwitiya
Shame on Indian Government as Hindus in Hindu-majority Bharat need security to complete holy Amarnath Yatra! – Editor
New Delhi: With number of pilgrims visiting Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir growing every year, the Centre reviewed the security arrangements at a high level meeting here on Wednesday with representatives of the armed forces.
The meeting, chaired by Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry ML Kumawat, was attended by officials of the CRPF and Army. As many as 2,13,007 pilgrims have been registered for yatra till Thursday and 8,251 pilgrims have already left Jammu for the cave shrine so far.
During the review meeting, Kumawat stressed upon the need for estimating the security requirements along the route well in advance and the futuristic plan should be made to include camp arrangements for increased number of yatris.
At the review meeting, special focus was laid on ensuring effective route management for smooth movement of devotees, providing security to camps and better parking facilities.
The need for issuing timely information to the pilgrims, like the weather near the shrine at a height of 3,880 metres, was also stressed at the meeting, sources said.
It was suggested that wide publicity should be given to inform the yatris well in advance about the weather conditions. The yatra cavalcade is guarded by the CRPF from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltal camps.
The three-tier security set-up has been activated in and around the cave shrine besides at the base camps in Jammu, Pahalgam and Baltal, security officials said.
The Army has set up 97 area domination posts and the CRPF has been deployed on the yatra route.
The third batch of 3,352 pilgrims left Jammu for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath on Thursday, amid chanting religious hymns, escorted by the CRPF.
The first batch had left for the holy cave shrine on June 17.
Source: www.dailypioneer.com
