Jammu Tawi, June 28 (KIP ): Though a small number of 1.3 lakh pilgrims are
registered for visiting the holy cave of Amarnath, the entire 300-km
long highway, linking Jammu with Srinagar, and the route from Anantnag
to Pahalgam and Sonamarg to Baltal have been placed under heavy
security cover.
The first batch of pilgrims has left the base camp at Jammu to
the cave shrine today under a heavy security cover. In case first three
to four batches of pilgrims visit the cave without any incident of
violence additional number of pilgrims may get registered for the
annual yatra.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken the entire security
bandobast in its hands and it has already sanctioned 30 to 50
additional companies of security forces for ensuring a hassle free
pilgrimage.
Even the Defence Ministry has been involved in protecting the
lives of pilgrims. Accordingly the Army has been posted to keep a watch
in and around the holy cave.
As the annual yatra has begun from June 28, tight security
measures have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the
pilgrimage. Besides routine security measures, extra forces along with
new gadgets, including 20 mobile jammers and some static jammers, have
been put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
According to official sources, jammers are used to block mobile
signals to disable the use of cell phones, which are often the mode of
communication in militant attacks.
The officer said patrolling parties would be equipped with latest
gadgets to meet any untoward situation on the Jammu-Srinagar highway
.Troop deployment and intelligence services on the highway would be
strengthened. The security is so much tight tha it has ensured care
of each and every yatri,
Separatists have urged militants to allow a smooth yatra
failing which it would create a wrong impression of subversives who
were fighting for liberation of Kashmir. Separatists have said any
attack on yatris would be an attack on Jihad. (KIP)
