Amarnath Yatra: Security arrangements finalised

Srinagar, Jun 25: With the annual

starting this Saturday, the DGP on Wednesday took stock of

arrangements and emphasised police and other agencies to work in greater synergy to ensure a smooth and secure

.

The security grid needs to be strengthened and all important locations en route to the 3,880 m-high holy cave shrine be kept under continuous surveillance round the clock, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra Kumar said.

He said this while finalising the security arrangements for the 44-day yatra, scheduled to commence from the twin routes of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district this Saturday.

The DGP, who chaired separate meetings of senior police officers at Baltal and Pahalgam after taking the aerial survey of the deployment, en route to the cave shrine, said all busy places including the 'langars' (community kitchens) should be brought under security cover. "Intelligence gathering should be accelerated and the inputs shared among the agencies for preventive measures.

CCTVs installed at different places should be utilised to monitor the activities at busiest places," Kumar said.

The DGP also reviewed the working of joint control rooms established at different locations and asked for ensuring better liaison and communication for safe passage of yatris. Kumar emphasised upon police and other security agencies to work in greater synergy and ensure a smooth and secure Yatra.

The DGP discussed deployment and security arrangements with the participants, including police bandobast, security of pilgrims, traffic management and frisking of yatris.

Earlier, Kumar visited various destinations along the routes, interacted with the personnel deployed there and took on-the-spot review of the security arrangements.

At various camps, Kumar inspected communication equipments and security gadgets and was told that efficient communication network has been pressed into service to maintain a strong communication all along the yatra routes in the state, an official spokesman said.

PTI