No threat to Amarnath Yatra: DGP Dilbag

Jammu:Maintaining that the security agencies are preparing a plan for the smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra, the Director-General of Police (DGP) J&K Dilbag Singh Friday said there is no threat to the Yatra this year and security arrangements for all vital spots are being prepared.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the plantation drive in Jammu, the DGP said that like every year there is a separate drill for the arrangements of Amarnath Yatra.
“We know what type of security arrangements are required along the highway and at Langer places including the tracks of Baltal and Pahalgam,” he said.
Singh said that the plans like in past years are being prepared on the same pattern and all the arrangements on the security level will be done.
To a query about the threat to Amarnath Yatra, the DGP said that as of now there is no threat to the annual Amarnath Yatra, and neither are there any such reports.
On sticky-bombs, Singh said that the topic is now gradually getting older but there is no denying it’s a new tactic.
“Some peace enemies from our neighbouring country remain busy in doing all this and this sticky-bomb is a new thing sent along with a magnet that can be fixed with any vehicle and metal surface which is a threat,” the DGP said, adding that we have our security drills to tackle everything.
He said that in the last couple of years, efforts were made to bring back youth who picked arms, and around three dozen were reunited with families due to their cooperation in the last year and all of them are living a normal life now.
“Even this year the efforts are underway to persuade youth to shun the gun and there is a huge success with youth understanding what lies on the path,” Singh said.
Singh assured that the process will continue and reiterated that militants are given chances to surrender even during the encounters despite having weapons with them.
“Nearly a dozen militants surrendered during live encounters last year,” he said.
About the killing of the top militants and commanders in the valley, the DGP said that recently a top commander of Lashkar in North Kashmir Gani Khawaja was killed and the Jaish top commander Sajad Afghani was killed in Shopian encounter recently.
“Hidaitullah top commander of the newly floated militant organization Lashkar E Mustafa has been killed and then Nazir who also headed a new organization. Two have been apprehended while two have been killed,” Singh said.
He further said that in the ensuing year nearly 12 militants have been killed and around three dozen people associated with different militant organizations in form of separate modules have been arrested