Troops deployed for polls to stay back in Kashmir

With annual Amarnath Yatra set to begin from July 1, authorities have decided to retain 300 additional companies of paramilitary forces in Kashmir that were brought in for smooth conduct of recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

“300 additional companies that were deployed across Kashmir for election duties have been retained. They will be deployed for smooth conduct of the pilgrimage and have been provided with the safe accommodation,” Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesman, Sanjay Sharma told reporters.

The nearly two-month-long annual pilgrimage would begin simultaneously on Pahalgam and Baltal routes from July 1 and conclude on Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals on August 15.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the deployment of 300 additional companies of paramilitary forces in Kashmir for the smooth conduct of five-phase LS polls, on the State’s request. The last phase of the polls in the state ended on May 6.

Sources said the decision to retain the additional forces was taken to save time, cut travel expenses and to do away with the risk of getting attacked during transit. “Keeping in view the security threat this year, security forces have been given specific responsibility to sanitise routes and secure a select number of pilgrim vehicles by sandwiching them between bulletproof troop carriers,” they said.

“Army would be deployed at the icy heights of holy cave shrine and some places on the twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari. The army would also man sensitive points on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the roads leading from Highway to Nunwan, Pahalgam and Baltal,” sources added.

J&K Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said sensitive areas along the yatra route have been sensitised by security personnel. “We are done with the yatra preparations. All sensitive areas along the yatra route have been sensitised and security personnel deployed at all the spots where it is needed,” he said.

In July 2017, militants had attacked yatris in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in which eight pilgrims were killed. On 1 August 2000, more than 30 people, including 21 pilgrims and some Muslims, mainly shopkeepers and porters were killed, when militants attacked the yatra base camp in southern Pahalgam town.

Every year, thousands of devotees undertake the yatra between July and August to pay obeisance at the shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at an altitude of 11,998 feet in south Kashmir Himalayas.