J&K: LG Manoj Sinha reviews Amarnath Yatra preparations

National

Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, inspected the security measures and preparations for the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu on Monday.

He also chaired a review meeting with Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Avny Lavasa, ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh, and other officials. Speaking to media persons, LG Sinha said, “Baba Amarnath yatra will be starting soon and all the arrangements have been done. This yatra has been important to boost the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Lakhs of people are dependent on this yatra and all the people here are eagerly waiting for the yatra. All the security measures have been taken care of.”

Security has been increased in Jammu and Kashmir two days before the start of the Amarnath Yatra, with a specific emphasis on the employment of over 130 sniffer dogs on vehicular routes leading to the shrine to guarantee safe pilgrimage despite heightened terror threat.

A top government source told ANI, this is the first time security personnel have used a large number of sniffer dogs to prevent terrorists from deploying explosives to disrupt the 43-day annual pilgrimage, which begins on June 30. “We have specifically deployed a large number of sniffer dogs for this year’s Amarnath Yatra. Over 130 sniffer dogs are already positioned on routes leading from Srinagar and Jammu to the sacred Amarnath cave to identify explosives suspected of being used by terrorist organisations to disrupt the annual pilgrimage,” said the official.

In light of the most recent threats, which include the use of grenades, sticky bombs, and Improvised Explosive Devices, security personnel have been utilising sniffer dogs to prevent any mishaps during the trip, which is being organised after a two-year hiatus.

Last week, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also informed the Central Government that Pakistan-based commanders of proscribed terrorist organisations are attempting terrorist activities targeting minorities, security personnel, and religious pilgrimages such as the holy Shri Amaranthji Yatra, Shri Vaishno Devi Yatra, and other similar religious activities.

The investigation uncovered a deep-rooted conspiracy of Pakistan-based proscribed terrorist organisations banding together in the form of a united group and shifting their mode of operation by floating phoney offshoot outfits posing as indigenous resistance groups, in the name of which terrorist acts are committed in order to claim deniability at the international level.

This trend was visible in accusations of terrorist activities committed in Jammu and Kashmir following the repeal of Article 370.

Many affiliates or offshoots outfits, such as The Resistance Front (TRF), People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF), United Liberation Front J-K (ULF J-K), Muslim Janbaaz Force (MJF), Kashmir Janbaaz Force (KJF), Kashmir Tigers, Kashmir Fight, Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind, Kashmir Gaznavi Force, and others, had suddenly mushroomed, laying claims to various