Terror attack has placed Kashmir under national & international scrutiny, our responsibility is greater now: Omar
Srinagar, Jun 28: Describing the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, slated to commence on July 3, as a “people’s yatra,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that every section of society has extended its full support to ensure the pilgrimage is conducted peacefully and successfully.
Chairing a high-level meeting with civil society members, religious leaders, officials, and security agencies at SKICC here, LG Sinha reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to a smooth and peaceful Amarnath Yatra. He acknowledged the contributions of all stakeholders and emphasized the critical role of local communities in its success.
The meeting witnessed the participation of several prominent persons, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Principal Secretary to the LG Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, top police officers, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, V K Bidhuri and around 77 civil society members.
Expressing his gratitude to the participants LG Sinha said, “I’m thankful to all of you for your presence. For the past few months, we’ve been holding regular meetings to review preparations for the pilgrimage,” he said.
Highlighting the tough terrains and unpredictable weather that accompany the pilgrimage, LG Sinha said, “Our collective aim is to make this Yatra as smooth and successful as possible.” He commended the relentless efforts of stakeholders over the years and said their dedication continues to be the backbone of the Yatra’s success.
“Preparations have been underway for several months now. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure comfort, safety, and support for pilgrims from across the country,” he added.
POWERFUL MESSAGE OF HARMONY
In a powerful message of harmony, the LG invoked a Kashmiri saying, “Khudai Chu Ekh, Naav Chis Setha” — “There is only one God with many names,” underlining that the Yatra is not just a religious journey but a symbol of unity and shared values.
Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, LG Sinha called it an attack on Kashmir’s soul. “What happened in Pahalgam and how people spontaneously came out in protest — I have not seen anything like this in my five years as LG,” he said.
He said that the attack was a desperate attempt by Pakistan-backed forces to create discord, but the people of Kashmir responded with unity and dignity, drawing praise from across the country.
“This attack has placed Kashmir under national and international scrutiny. Our responsibility has become even greater now,” he said, echoing sentiments expressed earlier by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
IMPACT ON REGISTRATIONS
LG Sinha acknowledged that the Pahalgam attack initially caused apprehension among devotees, leading to a 10.19% drop in Yatra registrations compared to the previous year, when over 5.12 lakh pilgrims participated.
However, the administration reached out to early registrants, and “around 85% of the devotees said they will not change their plans and will go ahead with the Yatra,” the LG revealed. “With each passing day, the number is increasing.”
JOINT RESPONSIBILITY
“More than the administration, it is the responsibility of the people to make this Yatra successful,” LG Sinha stated. He assured that all issues related to locals will be addressed promptly.
Security arrangements have been strengthened, and civil society members present in the meeting pledged their full support, describing the Yatra as “the people’s Yatra.”
Though some religious leaders expressed their desire to formally welcome devotees, LG Sinha clarified that while such gatherings would not be possible officially, individuals were free to meet pilgrims in their personal capacity.
DGP for proactive measures to mitigate potential threats
Jammu, Jun 28: Directing officers to take proactive and preventive measures to mitigate potential threats, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Nalin Prabhat on Saturday stressed on the need for strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the peaceful and successful conduct of forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, slated to commence on July 3.
Chairing a high-level security review meeting in Jammu, DGP Prabhat, according to the news agency directed the officers to intensify surveillance, deployment of anti-sabotage teams along the Yatra routes, and adopt advanced technology for real-time monitoring and threat detection.
The meeting witnessed the participation of senior officers from the J&K Police, Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), intelligence agencies, telecom, NSG, and civil administration. Among the key attendees were Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone Bhimsen Tuti (IPS), IG BSF Jammu Sector Shashank Anand (IPS), Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar (IAS), DIG Traffic Jammu Dr. Haseeb Mughal (IPS), DIG JSK Range Shiv Kumar Sharma (IPS), and SSP Jammu Joginder Singh (JKPS), along with senior officers from 16 Corps and 26 Division of the Army.
At the outset, officers presented detailed briefings on the security strategies and operational coordination planned for SANJY-2025. The emphasis remained on seamless coordination between all security and civil agencies to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the 38-day-long pilgrimage.
SSP Jammu gave a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation highlighting the security deployments across the district. He outlined key arrangements at lodgement centers, registration points, and token counters, and informed the DGP about the deployment of innovative measures such as Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) and anti-drone technologies aimed at enhancing surveillance and response capabilities.
Senior officers from the Army, CAPFs, intelligence wings, and other departments also briefed the DGP about their respective preparations.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, elaborated on the civil administration’s arrangements, particularly the establishment of 106 lodgement centers across the Jammu region to accommodate pilgrims. He expressed satisfaction over the synergy among various stakeholders and reiterated the administration’s commitment to facilitating a comfortable Yatra experience for the devotees.
