Drones used for Amarnath Yatra security
The Central Government has decided to monitor the safety of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra directly, after the Jammu and Kashmir police shared information with the intelligence grid about a possible attack on the pilgrims. The Centre has been sending special teams to Kashmir to ensure that the pilgrims are safe. The Ministry of Home Affairs is using drones, satellite tracking systems, jammers and bullet proof bunkers along with dozens of CCTV cameras to ensure that the 40-day Yatra passes off peacefully. The Centre has also deployed over 40,000 Army and security personnel on the way to Amarnath. The Yatra has started from the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir. Over 2.35 lakh pilgrims have registered for the Yatra and a few batches have already gone to the Amarnath cave despite inclement weather.
SSP Anantnag has sent intelligence inputs to IGP Kashmir Range, Muneer Ahmad Khan saying that militants will try to carry out a “sensational” attack on the pilgrims as well as the police and the CRPF. Media reports suggest that Muneer Ahmad Khan has asked the intelligence grid and Army to work on the human intelligence gathered by the SSP Anantnag.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the MHA top brass and the heads of different Central agencies to monitor the Yatra themselves. MHA’s special teams are not only in touch with J&K government, but have been visiting Kashmir also regularly. The Jammu and Kashmir government announced summer vacations for educational institutions between 6 and 15 July, despite the valley expecting pleasant weather in this period. The vacation was announced fearing student protests on the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on 8 July. United Jihad Council chief Syed Salahuddin has announced a sixday-long protest for Wani’s death anniversary. The police has told the government to expect student protests on Burhan Wani’s death anniversary.
While authorities in the state government admitted that the vacations were announced to avoid violence in schools and colleges,