More troops deployed in south Kashmir after Amarnath yatra

The Indian Army has deployed additional troops in south Kashmir after spurt in terror activities in the area this year, informed sources said.

The sources said on Friday that four battalions deployed for the Amarnath yatra, which got over on August 7, have been redeployed in the Kashmir Valley.

Two battalions have been deployed along the National Highway 44, which starts from Srinagar, and two more battalions have been deployed in south Kashmir.

A source said terrorists in north Kashmir have been in "hibernation mod"e, while in south Kashmir, there has been more "activity" this year.

Similarly, out of 100 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force deployed for the pilgrimage, 50 have been kept in the Valley, and most of them have been deployed in south Kashmir.

The source added that it was a routine practice to redeploy troops in the valley after the Amarnath yatra is finished, and they are finally pulled out by November or December.

The pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine in Jammu and Kashmir is undertaken by thousands in the Hindu month of Shravan. Troops are deployed for ensuring safety of the pilgrims, as the route of the pilgrimage crosses via volatile Anantnag district in south Kashmir.

This year, eight pilgrims were killed during the Yatra when a bus was attacked on July 10.

--IANS

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