Amarnath Yatra begins amid tight security

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, June 29

Amid religious chants, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off 176 vehicles, carrying the first batch of 4,890 pilgrims, from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday. Escorted by security vehicles mounted with machine guns, the pilgrims reached Kashmir in the afternoon and the onward journey from Pahalgam and Baltal base camps will begin on Thursday.

The pilgrimage is taking place after two years due to Covid. Several political and religious leaders, including Jammu Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, BJP leader Devender Rana and Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, were present at the flagging off ceremony amid Bam Bam Bhole chants.

Camps have been set up at the airport, the railway and bus stations to issue RFID tags on the basis of travel slips and identity cards. Further, new shelter sheds have been built on Baltal and Pahalgam axis in Kashmir. Health teams have also been deployed along the route.

“Adequate security is in place for the base camps and lodging places in Jammu,” SSP Chandan Kohli said.

Optical fibre cable has been laid to ensure telecom connectivity for pilgrims, said officials. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has also made a provision of online ‘darshan’ for those who cannot undertake the pilgrimage.

Several pilgrims, while talking to this correspondent, said they had no fear of terrorists. Lokesh Kumar (32) from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh said terrorists had been trying to stop the pilgrimage for years, but “we cannot let our culture fade away” in Kashmir.

Manish Sharma (34), who came from Bathinda, said his father was a retired Army official and had served in the Valley so Kashmir was special for him. “I have been coming here for seven years,” he said. Local businessmen, who suffered losses during Covid, say they expect a good business during the Amarnath Yatra.

In Ramban, DC Mussarat Islam and locals garlanded pilgrims upon their arrival.

Shivnandan Singh, Deputy Commandant and PRO of the CRPF, Jammu, said, “Heavy security deployment is there for pilgrims due to the threat amid statements issued by terror outfits to destabilise the yatra. The CRPF is also securing the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The 38 Battalion is guarding the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar and the 160 Battalion is on escort duty from Jammu to Navayug tunnel.”

In 2019, the yatra was curtailed midway before the abrogation of Article 370 and it did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

No fear: Visitors

• n Pilgrims say they have no fear despite terror threats.
• n Hundreds of medical centres to deal with any emergency.
• n Online ‘darshan’ facility for those who can’t visit.

Madadgar booths

The CRPF has established madadgar (helper) booths at different places, including transit and base camps, to help pilgrims. It will also provide medical help for free.

Adequate security arrangements in place, says Jammu SSP

Terror threat

Heavy security is in place for pilgrims due to the threat amid statements issued by terror outfits to destabilise the yatra. Shivnandan Singh, Deputy Commandant, CRPF

Yatra Symbol of communal harmony: NC

• National Conference (NC) leader Rattan Lal Gupta says the Amarnath Yatra is a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood.
• PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says despite stringent security, it is the Kashmiris who provide the real sense of security to pilgrims.
• Her comments came after shopkeepers in Panthachowk protested, claiming they were forced to shut their shops.

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