Home Secretary reviews security preparations for Amarnath Yatra

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla today held a high-level meeting at the Home Ministry to review security preparedness for Amarnath Yatra as the annual pilgrimage is all set to start on June 30 after a gap of two years. 

Bhalla convened the meeting with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Jammu and Kashmir administration, senior state police officers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Kuldiep Singh, Border Security Force (BSF) chief Pankaj Singh, as well as Army officers. 

Amarnathji Shrine Board members also participated in the meeting through video conferencing. 

The Home Secretary was apprised of security updates and deployment of Central Armed Police Forces on specific locations along the pilgrimage route during the yatra, as well as the security situation in the region. 

Sources in the MHA said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also expected to hold a security review meeting very soon on the pilgrimage after the second round of review meeting done by Bhalla today.  Resuming Amarnath pilgrimage is a challenging task as Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed several incidences of targeted killings in the last few months by terrorists following which Ministry of Home Affairs has asked security agencies operating in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance counter-terrorism operations. Thwarting DRONE and IED attacks will be the main challenge for security forces. About 300 companies of security forces will be deployed. While online registration has already begun, the pilgrimage is scheduled to be held for 43 days between June 30 and August 11.