J&K police reviews security arrangement for Amarnath pilgrims

The J&K police today reviewed the security arrangement for the 40-day Amarnath pilgrimage in south Kashmir and sought to have greater synergy among security agencies for a peaceful yatra.
The arrangement for the holy expedition to the shrine cave at a height of 3,800 metre in the Himalayas was reviewed in a meeting of top level police, Army and other security officials, chaired by Inspector General of Police Muneer Ahmad Khan of Kashmir range.
Khan sought cooperation of all stakeholders saying safety of the pilgrims should be the prime concern of the authorities during the yatra, scheduled to commence along twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district tomorrow.

"There is a need for greater synergy among all security agencies to ensure smooth and peaceful Amarnath yatra," said Khan chairing the high-level meeting of senior officers of police, paramilitary forces, Army and Intelligence agencies at base camp Pahalgam.
The IGP yesterday had chaired a high level meeting at Baltal-Sonamarg and took stock of the security arrangements regarding the yatra.
Khan, who visited all camps planned for yatra from Qazigund to Pahalgam and took stock of their security arrangements, said safety of the yatris should be prime concern of the authorities and stressed for conducting of frequent joint meetings of different security agencies to discuss various issues regarding its smooth conduct.

The meeting was among others attended by Deputy Inspector General of police, South Kashmir, S P Pani, SSP Anantnag Altaf Ahmad Khan, SP Kulgam Shridhar Patil and other senior officers of Army, CRPF and different intelligence agencies, a police spokesman said.

The IGP emphasisedupon the officers present in the meeting to mobilise their field agencies for maintaining close coordination and intelligence gathering so that appropriate steps are taken well in advance to ensure safety of pilgrims and all stakeholders associated with the yatra.
He also met with people providing services of the mules, tents and community kitchens and other stakeholders and sought their cooperation in conducting the Yatra peacefully, the spokesman said.

Pani apprised the officers at the meeting of the security arrangements made for smooth conduct of the yatra.
He also briefed the IGP about the establishment of communication network for information sharing among various agencies involved with the yatra and said joint control rooms are being established at all important places, the spokesman said.