DNA Edit: Safety of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims is an imperative

With Kashmir under Governor’s rule and the unilateral ceasefire restriction withdrawn, security forces will resume operations with renewed vigour. This means that terrorists in the Valley will be flushed out and packed off to their graves. Pakistan will have reasons to worry about because what happened during Ramzan – the restraint that the Indian government had exercised in the face of a spate of murders for the benefit of ordinary Muslims – won’t be repeated now.

The Indian Army will show no mercy to gun-wielding extremists who target soldiers and civilians. The BJP had earlier made it clear that it will take measures to restore law-and-order in the Valley. Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat meant business when he said that the Armed Forces have strict rules of engagement and they “take action” in accordance with them. The enhancement of security measures is all the more imperative for the sake of Amarnath pilgrims. The two-month yatra begins next week at a time when the Valley is witnessing a surge in terrorism. The central government has given strict instructions to the security forces to prevent any slip-ups.

Following the directive of the Union Home ministry, 238 companies – about 24,000 personnel – of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed on the Amarnath Yatra route. This is 17 per cent more than last year’s figures. They will work in close coordination with 25,000 personnel of Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police who are already maintaining a strict vigil in the Valley. For better coordination, the vehicles carrying pilgrims will most likely be fitted with radio-frequency tags. These tags will enable security forces carrying radio-frequency devices to gather information on the exact location of the Yatri vehicles in real time.

Apart from extensive combing operations on the ground, cameras have been installed in the yatri camps and drones have been pressed into service for aerial surveillance. The government isn’t taking any chances this year since it knows that extremists will be bent on exploiting loopholes in the security cover. If they succeed, apart from loss of lives, it will be a matter of huge embarrassment for India. Recall that in 2017, seven pilgrims – six of them women – were killed in Anantnag after terrorists opened fire at a bus, which was returning from the shrine.

In the wake of that deadly assault, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted: “Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone... India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks and the evil designs of hate.” Time and again, terrorists had targeted pilgrims with the sole purpose of creating a religious divide in the country and showing Kashmiris in poor light. If today the Valley resembles a war zone, it is because India doesn’t want the loss of innocent lives. Terrorism deserves no mercy and it must not be allowed to strike roots in Indian soil. The success of the security forces in the Valley will ensure that.