KL Report
SRINAGAR
Even everybody from Srinagar to New Delhi claims that the situation in Kashmir has changed to normal and only a few militants are active in the valley, state government issued a circular last week, directing the Army, police and other security forces to take action as per their Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in the matter to ensure safe pilgrimage which starts on June 28.
Jammu and Kashmir government has declared the entire Amarnath yatra route as “highly prone” to militant strikes and directed security agencies to take necessary steps to ensure safety of pilgrims.
“Considering the security scenario, topography of the yatra area, high potential of militant attacks on the yatris to create law and order situation throughout the state and the country, sensitive nature of the yatra, and the high publicity the yatra generates, the entire yatra area is highly prone to militant attacks,” the State Home Department said in a circular issued to all agencies concerned.
The circular, directed the Army, police and other security forces to take action as per their SOP in the matter to ensure safe pilgrimage which starts on June 28.
“Directions (and) inputs received in this regard from intelligence agencies and Unified HQ should be promptly shared with other security forces (and) intelligence agencies and necessary action should be initiated to prevent any mishap,” the circular reads.
The security agencies have also been directed to carry out aerial surveillance of the yatra area and deploy spotters in adequate numbers at the camps.
“Besides adequate deployment of security forces at the yatra camps, aerial surveillance of the yatra area may be undertaken and spotters may be deployed in adequate numbers at the yatra camps, particularly at the Cave Shrine area to spot unwanted activities (and) suspicious characters,” it added.
