FORCES KEEP TIGHT VIGIL, LOCALS PITCH IN TOO

Thousands of pilgrims from across the country have started trickling-in at the two base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam on Wednesday to perform the annual Amarnath pilgrimage which will start from Thursday morning amid tight security.

Along with over 40,000 security personnel, hundreds of Kashmiris are toiling hard to ensure that the arrangements are in place for the pilgrimage.

Eighteen-year-old Nisar Ahmad returned from the cave shrine on Wednesday evening after dropping the kerosene cans at the Shrine for the generators. He has been at the Baltal base camp for the past two weeks trekking the 14-km mountainous track daily on his horse along with rice, water, juices and other necessary items for the kitchens along the track.

“I have come here two days before Eid along with my father and have been continuously working. I make one trip everyday to the cave. I get very tired but one has to fulfil his responsibility,” said Ahmad, hoping to get a good return from the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board which is managing the pilgrimage.

Ghulam Hassan, 63, has mounted his makeshift shop at Baltal to supply the necessary ingredients, including rice, pulses, oil, tea among others. “I have been coming here for the past 40 years to ensure that supplies remain running,” he said.

Even as hundreds of pilgrims have already reached Baltal, security forces are ensuring that the schedule is adhered to. Rinku Sharma, 25, and Subhey Singh, 26, stand guard at the entrance of Baltal base camp to ensure that nobody moves ahead of time. The two Indo-Tibetan Border Police constables have come along with their company some 20 days ago. They have already performed the darshan. “We went to the shrine in groups. Now we will ensure the safety at the entrance,” they said.

The yatra, this year comes amid governor’s rule in the state after the BJP ended its coalition with the PDP on June 20. There has been heightened militant activity even before the commencement of the yatra, although a top Hizbul commander “ensured that pilgrims need not to worry”.

A coordinated security system by the forces has been put in place for the yatra. 238 companies of the central security forces will guard the pilgrimage, besides police and army.

While CRPF will ensure sanitisation of routes, road opening parties and will accompany the yatris from Jammu to the base camps along with police, army has been given the responsibility of corridor protection and securing higher reaches. The vehicles have been radio tagged and the CCTV cameras have been installed along the routes.

“We have put in place a fool proof security plan and hope with the cooperation of people, we will ensure a peaceful yatra,” said Ravideep Sahi, inspector general, CRPF.