SRINAGAR: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General, SL Thaosen, recently carried out a thorough evaluation of the security measures at the Baltal base camp and numerous halting stations along the pilgrimage route in preparation for the next Amarnath Yatra. Thaosen emphasised the need of teamwork and flawless coordination, emphasising the critical part they play in ensuring the success of this momentous occasion.
The Amarnath Yatra, an annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine located at a height of 3,880 meters in the south Kashmir Himalayas, is scheduled to commence on July 1 and continue until August 31. The CRPF spokesperson confirmed that the Director General visited camps situated at Baltal, Domail, Sarbal, and Neelgrath, where he examined the operational and administrative preparedness of the CRPF deployed for the Amarnath Yatra 2023.
During his visit, the Director General meticulously assessed the arrangements in place to create a secure environment for the pilgrims, emphasizing a zero-error policy. Every aspect of security planning was scrutinized to identify and mitigate potential risks, aiming to ensure a seamless, secure, and pleasant experience for all participants. Additionally, the DG reviewed the CRPF's disaster management preparedness, including contingency drills to ensure a swift response in the event of unforeseen mishaps or natural calamities, such as the cloud burst incident in 2022 that resulted in unfortunate casualties.
In line with the efforts to enhance security measures, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a security review meeting during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, attended by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, and senior officials from intelligence agencies, paramilitary forces, police, and the civil administration, focused on assessing the security situation in the Union Territory ahead of the Amarnath Yatra's commencement.
The Home Minister received a detailed briefing during the meeting, covering aspects such as the situation along the International Border and the Line of Control. Subsequently, necessary directives were issued to the security agencies to ensure a peaceful atmosphere throughout the Union Territory. In a previous meeting on June 9, Amit Shah had underlined the government's priority of ensuring a comfortable pilgrimage experience for all participants and directed officials to make adequate security arrangements along the entire pilgrimage routes in Jammu and Kashmir.
The pilgrims are expected to travel via two routes, namely Baltal and Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir. With the recent security reviews and assessments by the CRPF Director General and Union Home Minister, the authorities are making significant efforts to reinforce the security apparatus, enabling a safe and memorable Amarnath Yatra 2023.
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