High-tech equipment to enhance security cover for Amarnath pilgrims

Authorities will be using high-tech equipment to the hilt to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and safe Amarnath pilgrimage this year. State-of-the-art drones, RFID (radio-frequency identification device), and CCTV are some of the equipment that will be used to amp up the security.

"Preparations have been completed. We are implementing the security plan. Technology will aid security measures for the yatra this year. We will be using IP-based CCTVs and RFID tags for the yatra. Drones will also be used along the route and near the yatra camps," said Ravideep Sahi, Inspector General, CRPF, Srinagar sector.

RFID tags will be fitted to the pilgrim vehicles to keep a track of their movement. More than 500 CCTVs will be installed at different locations along the pilgrimage route to maintain 24/7 surveillance.

Situated in a narrow gorge at the altitude of 3,888 metre, the Amarnath caves are accessible from two routes in Kashmir Valley. The 46-km Pahalgam trek is an ancient pilgrimage route, which takes five days to cover. The new 14-km Baltal route is preferred more by pilgrims these days since it is shorter and can be covered in a day. A naturally-formed shiva lingam has been drawing pilgrims to the remote caves for ages now.

"CRPF personnel will be escorting the convoy of yatra buses and vehicles from Jammu up to Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. Plus we will put up nakas, cut off points, and patrol the entire route," said Sahi.

More than 24,000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel and Jammu and Kashmir Police will be deployed for the yatra this year. Official figures say 213 companies of CAPF will be deployed this year, as against the 181 companies in 2017. Thirty-two companies of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) and Indian Reserve Police (IRP) will also be deployed. Last year, 23 companies of JKAP and IRP were deployed. Besides this, the Indian Army will be sanitising the upper reaches and dominate the heights to ensure smooth and peaceful pilgrimage.

Most CAPF companies are being deployed in south Kashmir given the high terrorist infestation there. Of the total CAPF companies, 92 would be deployed in south Kashmir and the rest will be deployed in central Kashmir.

Last year, eight yatris were killed and 20 others injured when terrorists attacked their bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Anantnag on July 10.

This year's pilgrimage will start on June 28. The 60-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 26. "The yatra will be flagged off from Jammu on June 27, and the yatris will get the first darshan on June 28," said Sahi.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also undertook an aerial recce of the route along the Pahalgam axis, and inspected the arrangements made at Baltal, before she arrived at Srinagar on Monday.

The Defence Minister advised the security forces to constantly review and identify any gap in the security arrangements and ensure swift and targeted counter terror responses are taken on the ground.