CRPF bike squad to give cover to Amarnath yatris
NEWDELHI: In a bid to strengthen security for pilgrims visiting Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for the Amarnath yatra which kicks off on June 28, the central armed police force (CRPF) on Tuesday said it had formed a special motorcycle squad.
The squad will bolster security for the pilgrims and some of the motorcycles in it will be operated as small ambulances, a senior paramilitary official said.
“Keeping in view the convenience and security of pilgrims, CRPF has prepared a special motorcycle squad which, on one hand will ensure security of pilgrims on the Yatra route, and on the other hand, it will also be utilised as a small ambulance for pilgrims. In some of the motorcycles, life-saving equipment has been fixed...” said the force’s statement.
The squad is slated to accompany the batch of pilgrims embarking on the yatra from the Jammu Base camp.
The team comprises specially-trained CRPF men who will operate with cameras installed in their helmets.
“To review the efficacy of security arrangements for the Yatra, Abhay Vir Chauhan, IG CRPF Jammu Sector, chaired a meeting of senior CRPF officers of units deployed in Jammu region. During the meeting, various aspects of security were discussed upon among which security of base camp Bhagwati Nagar and security of yatra route were emphasised,” the statement added.
The first batch of pilgrims of the yatra will be flagged off on Wednesday from the Jammu base camp. The yatra however, will begin on Thursday.
‘WILL NOT ATTACK AMARNATH PILGRIMS’
SRINAGAR: The Hizbul Mujahid said on Tuesday it has no plans to attack Amarnath yatris and said the pilgrims could carry on even without security.
An audio message purportedly from the group’s operational commander, Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo said, “Recently J&K DGP SP Vaid said that security of Amarnath yatra has been beefed-up, as militants are planning to attack the yatra. This is not true. We don’t have any plan to attack and will never attack them.’’
“They (yatris) are coming here to fulfill their religious obligations. We have never attacked the Amarnath yatra in the past as our fight is not with the yatris. Our fight is with those people who are committing atrocities on our people and those who forced us to pick up the gun,’’ said the 15-minute message further.
“We are fighting for our freedom. Our only demand to India is that they should leave our land. Our fight is never against the people of India,” it said.
“[The pilgrims] could perform the yatra without security. You don’t need any security as you are our guests,’’ it added.
The message alleged that the Centre was spreading rumours of such an attack. “In Kashmir there are lot of non-local people working who could be seen everywhere. If the situation in Kashmir is so bad, how these non locals are working here. If the people of Kashmir are terrorists then how do they (non local workers) go home alive?’’
MIR EHSAN