Unprecedented security for Amarnath yatra

Srinagar, June 10 (UNI) Security forces have been put on high alert along the entire route of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage which starts from tomorrow.

The first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammu tomorrow for Baltal and Pahalgam under unprecedented security arrangements, official sources said.

Besides Jammu and Kashmir police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have been deployed to thwart any militant attempt to attack the pilgrims.

The recovery of a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting point on the traditional Pahalgam-Amarnath cave shrine route, was a cause of concern for the security agencies.

There are intelligence inputs that some anti-national elements will try to disturb the month-long pilgrimage after making attempts to disturb the tourist season by attacking tourists with hand grenades in the city, they said.

However, killing of some top militant commanders, who were planning to target pilgrims, in south Kashmir during the past few weeks, was a great success for the security forces, sources said adding that the slain commanders included those who were expert in making Improvised Explosive Devices(IED).

Sources said after the recivery of IED at Chandanwari, a high level meeting reviewed the overall security situation all along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to the holy shrine.

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