Ahead of yatra, Rajnath reviews state security

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 1

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here today reviewed the overall security situation with top Army, security forces, police and intelligence officers ahead of the annual Amarnath yatra that commences via the Pahalgam and Baltal routes amid tight security arrangements across the Valley on Saturday. 

The Union Home Minister arrived here today on a two-day visit to the Kashmir valley to review the security situation ahead of the Amarnath yatra in the backdrop of recent spurt in the militancy-related incidents across the Valley.

The two-hour meeting was held at Raj Bhawan in which Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also participated. 

All officers, who are part of the Unified Headquarters, including top Army, CRPF, J&K Police and intelligence agencies, attended the meeting. It discussed all issues related to ensure smooth conduct of the yatra and also security of tourists arriving in the Valley.

This was the first such meeting held here after Mehbooba Mufti took over as the Chief Minister on April 4.

The yatra is taking off in the backdrop of a series of militancy-related incidents across the Valley, particularly in June which saw 14 such incidents. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told the State Assembly on the concluding day here on Thursday that these included three major attacks. 

Two which were on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway that is mainly taken by the pilgrims to the Valley. The first militant attack took place at Bijbehara on June 3 in which three BSF men were killed. In the deadliest attack last month, militants killed eight CRPF jawans and injured 27 when their convoy came under attack at Pampore on June 25. Two other J&K Police personnel were shot dead by unidentified militants in Anantnag town on June 4.