Reviewing security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath pilgrimage, J&K Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, on Tuesday, emphasised that local and highway security grids need to be kept fully geared at all levels and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) deployed to provide immediate assistance to the pilgrims as and when required.

The DGP chaired a high-level meeting of senior officers from Police, civil administration, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in Srinagar to review the security arrangements and deployment of personnel for the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

The meeting was attended by ADG CRPF, J&K Zone, Daljit Singh Chawdhary, Spl DG CID, J&K RR Swain, ADGP Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh,  IGP CRPF (Ops) Sector Kashmir, MS Bhatia, IGP CRPF Srinagar, Charu Sinha,  IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, IGP Traffic J&K, Vikramjit Singh, DIG Central Kashmir Sujit Kumar, DIG South Kashmir, Abdul Jabbar,  DIG SSB SHQ, (Spl Ops) Kashmir, Memen Basant Kumar,  DIG ITBP Kashmir, SK Yadav and senior officers from the civil administration.

Speaking on the occasion, the DGP called for all possible security arrangements of Base Camps and strengthening the communication network. He stressed on the need for effective and planned regulation of traffic management on the national highway and other roads, parking of vehicles, and deployment of forces on both the yatra routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

He asked the officers to use modern security gadgets and technologies including CCTVs, and drones to further augment the security at important Yatra locations and routes. He stressed a special focus on sensitive locations and base camps including parking places.

Calling for coordination mechanisms and communication systems among all the stakeholders of the Army, CAPFs, Police, and civil administration, the DGP said close coordination is a must for better results. For smooth and peaceful conduct of the yatra, he asked for proper planning. The DGP instructed the officers to regularly inspect the security and other necessary arrangements for the pilgrims.

He also reviewed the additional security measures being taken along the National Highway.

The DGP said that adequate manpower has been made available to the jurisdictional officers and reiterated that the identified routes of movement of the yatra, Do’s and Don’ts for the yatris, and helpline numbers should be made public and by circulating them through every possible medium so that pilgrims could take note and ask for assistance effortlessly.

The officers representing different forces apprised the DGP regarding the arrangements with regard to security and deployment of manpower in their respective areas of jurisdiction to ensure peaceful Yatra and keep the routes leading to the Holy Cave hassle-free and safe for pilgrims.