On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted consecutive meetings addressing security preparedness and logistical arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. This is particularly crucial due to an increasing trend of terrorists targeting migrants and non-Muslim Kashmiris in the Valley. Currently, Shah is in the midst of a third meeting to discuss the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that Shah emphasized the Modi Government’s priority to ensure easy Darshan for pilgrims during the Amarnath Yatra, with no disruptions.
These meetings gain significance as there are concerns about terrorist groups attempting to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra, which is taking place after a two-year gap. The Yatra, starting on June 30, is the first after the decisions on August 5, 2019, that altered the special status of the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two Union Territories.
The first meeting focused on logistical arrangements, covering infrastructure, weather, health, transport, and telecommunication. Attendees included Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar, and key officials from the J&K administration. The second meeting addressed security concerns for the Yatra, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande, and J&K Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh in attendance.
The MHA issued instructions for comprehensive facilities, including movement, lodging, electricity, water, communication, and health for Amarnath pilgrims. Given the first Yatra after the COVID-19 pandemic and the high altitude, special arrangements will be made for pilgrims facing health-related issues.
Key directives include increasing mobile towers for better communication, deploying machinery for swift route clearance during landslides, ensuring an adequate supply of oxygen cylinders, medical beds at altitudes above 6,000 feet, and deploying ambulances and helicopters for emergency medical situations. The MHA emphasized boosting all categories of transport services for passenger convenience during the Amarnath Yatra.
The second meeting also discussed the continued violence against migrants and Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. In light of the suspected terror attack on a passenger bus in Katra last week, near the Vaishno Devi shrine, the focus was on enhancing security measures for the Yatra. The investigation into the bus incident suggested the use of a sticky bomb, possibly by operatives of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
