The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ramped up security for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage to an unprecedented level following the June 12 militant attack on Shiv Khori pilgrims which killed nine and injured dozens of devotees.

Security forces always take extensive measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims in the Valley. However, a spate of militant attacks, including the one on pilgrims in Reasi district, has necessitated heightened security in Jammu as well.

The 52-day-long yatra will formally commence on Saturday but the first batch will be flagged off in Jammu on Friday. Police heads of both Jammu and Kashmir regions have exuded confidence about the security arrangements.

Jammu region’s additional director-general of police, Anand Jain, said all arrangements had been made for a peaceful yatra, and his Kashmir counterpart Vijay Kumar Birdi echoed similar confidence.

Security forces on Wednesday killed a group of three militants in Jammu’s Doda district but the forces fear that more militant groups, some of which were said to have recently infiltrated, were active in the Jammu region.

Jain told a media conference on Wednesday evening that six to seven militant groups were active in Jammu.

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday reviewed the preparations of the yatra at a high-level meeting at Pahalgam, where he was joined by Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, the CEO of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, and other senior officials.

“Pilgrims are the brand ambassadors of Jammu and Kashmir. Greater synergy between all stakeholder departments, police, security forces and service providers will ensure the best arrangements for the hassle-free pilgrimage,” Sinha said at the event.

A spokesman said that during the meeting, it was told that substantial improvements had been made in terms of facilities for the safe and smooth pilgrimage.

Official sources said the attack on Shiv Khori pilgrims had sparked worries about the safety of the Amarnath pilgrimage. The most recent attack on Amarnath pilgrims was in 2017, which killed eight pilgrims. “But we are satisfied with the arrangements,” an
official said.

Thousands of security personnel from the police, the CRPF and the ITBP have been deployed to ensure foolproof security for the annual pilgrimage. Officials said a multiple-layer security cover was in place to secure highways.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration set cut-off timings for pilgrims travelling in vehicles under which they will be allowed to move between designated hours.

Jammu SSP Vinod Kumar said comprehensive security arrangements were in place which included the activation of Quick Reaction Teams from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Jammu and Kashmir police.