Amarnath Yatra begins today; intelligence warns of terror attack

The annual Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir beginning on Wednesday is facing a terror threat, according to an intelligence warning which has prompted the authorities to mobilise the “highest level” of security measures, including satellite tracking system.

The 40-day-long pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath in the mountainous region of south Kashmir will commence on Wednesday from Jammu, about 200 kms from the shrine.

Around 2.30 lakh pilgrims have registered for the yatra and the first batch of over 4,000 pilgrims will be flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh for the twin base-camps of Pahalgam and Baltal in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts.

“Intelligence input received from SSP Anantnag reveals that terrorists have been directed to eliminate 100 to 150 pilgrims and about 100 police officers and officials,” according to a letter sent by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Muneer Khan to the Army, the CRPF, and range DIGs in the state. “The input is assessed to be a HUMINT (human intelligence) and it needs further corroboration,” the IGP said in the letter.

At this stage, the possibility of a sensational attack by a terrorist outfit cannot be ruled out, he said.“The attack may be in the form of stand-off fire on yatra convoy which they believe will result in flaring of communal tensions throughout the nation," the IGP said in the letter which is being circulated in many groups on Whatsapp.

All the officers and officials deployed on the ground need to remain alert and maintain utmost vigil, he added in the letter whose copy got leaked and went viral on social media. Khan later tried to play it down, saying there was no need to panic as it was part of information being shared with agencies to check its authenticity.

Jammu and Kashmir DGP S P Vaid said someone has spread it on social media to create panic.

The government has mobilised a heavy security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops including the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF.

In addition to the existing strength of the CRPF in the state, the Centre has provided over 250 companies (25,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces to the state government. The BSF has deployed over 2,000 troops for the yatra while the Army has provided 5 battalions (about 5000 personnel) and additional 54 companies (5400 personnel) of the police have also been mobilised. “This Amarnath yatra will have the highestever security setup to ensure an incident-free yatra,” said Special Director General of CRPF S N Shrivastava.

Asked about the intelligence warning, he said, “I will not like to discuss the issue in public but you are aware about the situation in Kashmir. We have taken measures as per the these intelligence inputs and have made appropriate security arrangements.”

Describing the yatra as “a big challenge to us”, he told reporters, “All security arrangements have been made in view of the threat perception... Elaborate security has been put in place for an incident-free yatra and to ensure safety and security of pilgrims and camps.”

As a measure of security, satellite tracking system has been put in place for the safety of convoys carrying the pilgrims, said Shrivastava, who visited the base camp along with CRPF IG Ashkoor Wani to review the preparations.

CCTV cameras, jammers, RoPs, dog squads, bullet-proof bunkers, QRTs, satellite tracking and other security gadgets are being used to maintain vigil in view of increased threat perception due to in increased terror incidents and violence in Kashmir. BSF DG K K Sharma said in Kolkata, “The situation is very tense this year. This time there is a high level of threat perception. We have taken all precautions regarding deployment of forces and our commandos.” He added, “We will ensure that it passes off peacefully like previous years.”

Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said the authorities were cognizant of the security challenge and it had been conveyed to the security forces.

Around 2.30 lakh pilgrims have registered for the yatra and the first batch of over 4,000 pilgrims will be flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh