Railway security tightened in Jammu during Navratri festival

Jammu, Sep 24 (ANI): Apprehending terrorist attack during the ongoing nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri, railway authorities have beefed up security at the crowded Jammu city station in Jammu and Kashmir.

The station is the transit point for pilgrims visiting the revered Hindu hill shrine, Vaishno Devi, thronged by thousands of devotees every year and especially during Navratri.

Railway tracks and property in the state have been a target of militants waging war against the state for two decades.

Crowded stations have been sitting ducks for the terrorists intending mayhem. Jammu station in particular, frequented by hundred thousands of Hindu pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi and the Amarnath hill cave shrine, has borne the brunt of terrorist strikes.Additional troops have been deployed at the Jammu Tawi railway station and security personnel could be seen patrolling and frisking passengers at all entry and exit points at the station.

Security at the station has been divided into five zones and each zone has a team of officials to regulate the rush, said an official.

"For Navratri we have made some special security arrangements. We have deployed additional security personnel. Security at station has been divided into five zones and each zone has an inspector along with a team of officials to regulate the rush," said Vijay Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu Railway Station.

The devotees making their way to the Himalayan hill shrine take the delay in their stride keeping in view that it is for their own security.

"The security arrangement out here is really good. The danger in crowded places is being managed well," said Sandeep Shinde, a passenger. (ANI)