Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Jun 11: A day after a high level security review meeting was held in Jammu, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meet in Srinagar Tuesday where Reasi attack and the need of multi-layer security cover for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra dominated the session. The meeting also finalised counter measures that entailed guarding all major shrines of Jammu region and launching a massive manhunt to nab the attackers involved in Reasi attack.
Reliable sources in the security grid said that the UHQ meeting was held at Raj Bhawan. Chaired by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, the meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dullo, Principal Secretary Home, Director General of Police R R Swain, ADGP Law and order Vijay Kumar, ADGP Jammu, ADGP CID, principal secretary to LG, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu regions, GoC’s of 9, 15, and 16 Corps, ADG CRPF, IG CRPF (Ops) IG BSF, Kashmir and Jammu, Additional Director IB Jammu besides other officers.
A source privy to the meeting said that a power present presentation made in the meeting displayed the preparations by both administration and security agencies for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. “The Lt Governor expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements for Amarnath pilgrimage and directed the officers to strengthen the security grid further by deploying joint teams of forces on highways and vulnerable points along the highways,” he said.
The annual pilgrimage will start on June 29 and conclude on August 19. The source further revealed that Amarnath Yatra will have stepped up security this time around given the recent attack on Shiv Kohri pilgrims at Reasi.
The meeting, as per the source, was dominated by the Reasi attack that left nine persons, eight of them Shiv Kohri pilgrims, dead and 33 others injured. “Hectic deliberations took place in the meeting on the Reasi attack and it was decided to further step up the security cover at all major shrines of Jammu region especially Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Shiv Kohri in Reasi and other Shrines,” the source said.
He said that highways and points where tourists and pilgrims normally stop for tea/coffee/snacks, refreshments, lunch etc will have tight security cover in both Kashmir and Jammu regions.
In the meeting, the source said, top security brass was directed to launch a massive manhunt to nab the attackers involved in the Reasi attack. It may be recalled that on Monday, Lt Governor assured the people that those involved in the Reasi attack will be brought to justice.
He said that the meeting also discussed counter measures to prevent Reasi like attacks given the fact that Kashmir at present is jam-packed with the tourists and “attacks like Reasi” are an attempt to disrupt the peaceful situation in the UT. As per official figures, till June 10, over 13 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir including a large number of foreign tourists. “In the meeting, all security agencies vowed to work in close coordination to prevent the designs aimed at disrupting the peace in J&K,” the source said.
This time around, the administration believes that there will be a record number of Amarnath pilgrim arrivals and the total tourist arrivals would break the previous year’s record of 2 Crore. The meeting also discussed “Eid plan” and measure taken for smooth Eid ul Adha prayers across the UT.
