news details |
|
|
| Over 50 CRPF companies being deployed on Amarnath yatra duty | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 10: Over 50 companies of CRPF are being deployed for providing a security cover to pilgrims during the ensuing Amarnath pilgrimage.The annual pilgrimage is to be begun from June 28 and end on August 10. Official sources said that these 50 companies were being sent from the reserves and not a single company, deployed within the valley to counter the activities of militants,was to be withdrawn for yatra duty.
According to these sources,besides the deployment of paramilitary forces and the police several companies of troops were being deployed in and around the holy shrine. Reports said that troops were being asked to sanitize the shrine and its immediate area against any explosive devices that may have been planted by militants. Troops may also set up pickets in some sensitive belts on the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar highway. Sources said that the security grid had to be strengthened during the yatra period because inputs from intelligence agencies have revealed militants and other subversive elements may attempt at derailing peace which may affect pilgrim traffic to the mountain cave, supposed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati.
According to these reports, paramilitary forces may be assisted in carrying out road opening programme everyday before the start of the journey of pilgrims from Jammu,the base camp for the yatra. Road opening programme has been made mandatory for security forces so that the entire route could be insulated against any explosives having been planted on the highway.
Reports said that the Union Home Ministry has been told to allow the additional companies of paramilitary forces that were sent to Jammu and Kashmir for the just concluded Lok Sabha poll, to remain stationed in the state as only 40 days were left for the yatra to begin. Withdrawing these additional companies of paramilitary forces and later deploying them again after a month would entail heavy expenses.
State Government authorities favour that the additional companies of paramilitary forces sent for poll duty be retained for another six months as the state is to witness Assembly election after five months. In fact more companies of paramilitary forces were required for providing security cover to political leaders and voters during the Assembly election because polling has to be held in 87 constituencies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
