Additional CRPF troops land in Jammu for holy Amarnath Yatra

Jammu, June 2 (UNI) About 1,000 additional troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) landed here today to meet the increased security requirements during the famous Amarnath Yatra that begins from June 18.

At least six companies of CRPF have been brought in for the security purposes in view of terrorist threats to the two-month-long pilgrimage, sources told UNI.

Confirming the report, Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami said, ''Two IL and six AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have landed here with CRPF troops from Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)''.

Sources further said the CRPF troops, drawn from various battalions all over the country, would be deployed en route the holy cave shrine -- situated in a cave at the farther end of Lidder valley -- about 46 kms from Pahalgam and 141 km from summer capital city of Srinagar.

Like every year, the state government has chalked out comprehensive security plans to avert possibilities of sabotaging the pilgrimage.

Besides state police forces, army and other security and intelligence agencies will be deployed for making the Amarnath Yatra a peaceful event.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims every year participate in the Yatra, which gives a big boost to the local economy and brings smiles on traders in Kashmir, who eagerly wait for this pilgrimage.

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