| Post Operation Sindoor, Home Minister arrives in Jammu for 2-day visit | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, May 29: Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Jammu on Thursday evening for a significant two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at bolstering security arrangements in the region, particularly in preparation for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled from July 3 to August 9.
According to sources Shah is expected to chair a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhawan to assess preparations for the annual pilgrimage. The meeting will include key stakeholders such as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and heads of security agencies, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Jammu and Kashmir Police. This visit marks Shah’s first trip to the region since Operation Sindoor and his second following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, highlighting the Central Government’s commitment to strengthening security measures ahead of the Yatra.
On Friday, Shah is scheduled to visit Poonch to meet families affected by recent Pakistani shelling during the military standoff earlier this month, offering support and assessing the ground situation in the border district.
To ensure the safety of pilgrims, the Centre has approved the deployment of 581 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), totaling approximately 42,000 personnel. These forces will secure Yatra routes, base camps, and sensitive areas, including Srinagar. Of these, 424 companies are fresh deployments, while around 80 units previously stationed during Operation Sindoor will be reassigned for Yatra security. Security forces have been instructed to take up positions by mid-June, supported by advanced surveillance systems along borders and key locations.
The BSF has confirmed the rapid deployment of cutting-edge sensors to detect cross-border movements, aimed at preventing infiltration attempts. Earlier this week, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh conducted an aerial survey of the Yatra route and reviewed security arrangements in Kashmir. BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary is also slated to assess border security measures in Srinagar in the coming days.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Nunwan Base Camp in Pahalgam to inspect ongoing preparations for the Yatra. Both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes are being fortified with multilayered security, including drone surveillance, anti-sabotage checks, and strengthened road-opening parties to ensure a safe pilgrimage.
The Home Minister’s visit underscores the government’s focus on ensuring a secure and smooth Amarnath Yatra while addressing the challenges posed by recent security incidents in the region. |
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