“Top meet likely to assess overall security situation in J&K with focus on preparedness for the yatra”
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on June 8, in the run-up to the annual Amarnath Yatra, sources said.
The meeting assumes significance as it comes days before the commencement of the pilgrimage, which draws thousands of devotees to the Himalayan cave shrine each year and involves elaborate security arrangements across multiple districts in the Union Territory.
Reports quoted sources as saying that the review will focus on assessing the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, with particular emphasis on preparedness for the yatra.
Key aspects likely to be discussed include deployment of security forces, intelligence coordination, surveillance mechanisms, and contingency planning to deal with any potential threats, they said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will attend the meeting along with top officials of the administration and security establishment. These include the Director General of Police, the Chief Secretary, and senior officers from the Army and police, among others.
The Home Minister is likely to take stock of the ground situation and review measures put in place to ensure a smooth and incident-free conduct of the pilgrimage. Inputs from intelligence agencies and field-level assessments are also expected to be part of the discussions, officials said.
The annual Amarnath Yatra is considered one of the most significant religious pilgrimages in the country and also a major logistical and security exercise. Pilgrims travel via the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district, both of which are secured through multi-layered arrangements involving central and local forces.
Given the challenging terrain and past security concerns in the region, authorities typically put in place extensive measures, including area domination, route sanitisation, convoy protection, and deployment of advanced surveillance systems.
The June 8 meeting is expected to provide a final review of preparedness and ensure that all stakeholders are aligned ahead of the yatra, sources added. The annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28 this year
