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| Additional forces to be sent to valley | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 29: Despite reports reaching the state's winter capital that parts of south Kashmir have witnessed violence on Tuesday in which two civilians were wounded in police firing the enthusiasm among the Amarnath bound pilgrims continues to rise. Since the first batch of the pilgrims,that will be escorted by police and paramilitary forces from Jammu on Wednesday, is expected to reach Pahalgam after travelling on the roads in south Kashmir the same evening one continues to be pessimistic whether the Government gives permission to the pilgrims to leave Jammu for the holy cave tomorrow.
Well indications are that the security forces have strengthened the security grid right from Jammu to Pahalgam. Apart from escorting pilgrim convoys from Jammu to Pahalgam security pickets have been set up at various places on the Jammu-Qazigund-Srinagar highway. Official sources said that additional companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed on the mountain routes between Udhampur and Qazigund to prevent militants from attacking buses carrying pilgrims.
Sources said that the Army has been asked to standby so that in case of emergency troops could be called in to tackle the situation. Asked whether it was safe for the pilgrims to travel to Pahalgam and Baltal senior police functionaries said that no doubt various parts of the Kashmir valley were witnessing angry and unruly demonstrations in protest against the killing of youths in the firing opened by the police and paramilitary forces the protesters had nothing against the pilgrims.
According to police functionaries pilgrimage to Amarnath was not even suspended or postponed when the valley witnessed bigger turmoil between 1991 and 1994 than what one sees at present. They said in the past pilgrims refused to suspend their pilgrimage when militants had attacked some of the buses carrying yatris. At the sametime the current situation in the Kashmir, according to the police, calls for added security measures for ensuring safe passage to the yatris, who will start visiting the holy cave from Thursday onwards for a period of two months.
The only thing that worries the state authorities is that since Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) had failed to force the state Government to reduce the duration of the yatra from two months to 15 days his supporters may kick up some bigger row so that the Government had no other alternative but to concede Geelani's demand. Chances for such a situation were remote. The Government has mobilised all its resources for facilitating pilgrims to have a hassle free yatra.
Still the Government has not left anything to chance and it has been assured of all possible help by the centre if the local authorities want additional companies of paramilitary forces to be sent to Jammu and Kashmir. The state has already made a request to this effect because bulk of the security personnel will be deployed on tackling violence in the valley. Additional forces may be airlifted to Kashmir in case the state Government felt the need for it.
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