Amaranth route prone to militant attacks: Govt Police says two militant groups posing threatAsem MohiuddinSrinagar, Jun 19: With government declaring Amarnath cave route highly sensitive and prone to militant strikes, the security agencies fear that two militant groups may try to disturb the yearly yatra.Highly placed sources told reporter that a high level security meeting presided over by DGP Ashok Prasad was held at police headquarters this evening. The meeting discussed in detail the potential militant threats to the Amarnath yatra.“After cross checking the facts, security officials identified militant outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Toiba as potential militant outfits, which may try to disturb the Hindu pilgrimage, scheduled to start later this month,” they said.As per the inputs, sources said, militant outfits may employ the recent recruits from South Kashmir to disrupt the pilgrimage.“In last few months, South Kashmir has witnessed many militancy related incidents. Our inputs suggest that many youth in South Kashmir have joined militant ranks in recent past. In view of controversy over number of yatris and extension of yatra duration, there are chances that some attempts could be made by militants to demoralize yatris,” they said.They said local militants are well versed with the topography of area and these could be used by militant outfits to target yatris.“It has been decided to increase vigil on all the routes leading towards cave. The strength of security men on the sensitive routes will be increased and troops will be asked to remain extra vigilant to thwart any attempt by militants to target yatris,” sources said.They said the meeting at police headquarters was held immediately after Unified headquarters meeting, which was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The Unified Headquarters meeting reviewed the Amarnath Yatra arrangements.Meanwhile, the government has issued an advisory note to security agencies declaring all routes to Amarnath cave as “highly sensitive and prone to militant attacks”. "Considering the security scenario, topography of the yatra area, high potential of militants attacks on the yatris to create law and order situation throughout the state and the country, sensitive nature of the yatra, and the high publicity the yatra generates, the entire yatra area is highly prone to militant attacks," the Home Department said in a circular issued to all agencies concerned.The circular, issued last week, directed Army, police and other security agencies to take action as per their Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure safe pilgrimage. "Directions and inputs received in this regard from intelligence agencies and Unified Headquarters should be promptly shared with other security and intelligence agencies and necessary action should be initiated to prevent any mishap," it reads.The security agencies have also been directed to carry out aerial surveillance of the yatra area and deploy spotters in adequate numbers at the camps especially at the cave shrine area to spot unwanted activities and suspicious characters.Last year, an estimated 6.2 lakh pilgrims had visited Amarnath cave.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Lt General K T Parnaik had claimed on Monday that the Army has received inputs that militant might try to disrupt the Yatra.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:52:44 +0000
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