Extra precautions being taken for Amarnath Yatra: J&K Police

Jammu: With the first batch of the Amarnath Yatra scheduled to leave from the city on June 27, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said that they are taking "extra precautions" to ensure a safe and sound pilgrimage.

So far nearly three lakh people have registered for the annual yatra which will be flagged off from Jammu by Minister for Tourism GA Mir. "Whatever is required from the security point of view is being done. All necessary measures are being taken. Extra precautions are being taken to ensure that there are no untoward incidents," IGP, Jammu, Rajesh Kumar, told a news agency today. Asked about the additional deployment of forces in view of the recent attack on the Army convoy in Srinagar, the IGP said "During the Yatra there is always an additional deployment of the forces and this time around it is no different." However, on the functioning of the CCTV`s which form an important part of watch and ward, the police officers said it will take some time before they are fully functional. "CCTV`s are still non-functional, work is in progress to make them operational and we are hopeful that in the coming weeks they will be fully functional," he said. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Atul Goel, meanwhile, said that special attention is being given to maintaining the security at railway station and at the places where the pilgrims will stay. He also informed that high level of security will also be maintained at the spot registration counters at Saraswati Dham, Vaishnavi Dham and Jammu Haat. On the traffic front, SSP Traffic Manmohan Singh said all incoming vehicles will report at the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar and from there they will leave for the Yatra in the shape of convoys with a traffic inspector heading them to the destination on rotational basis. "The vehicles will be checked at Lakhanpur border and slips be pasted on the front of each vehicle in accordance with its destination, like the vehicles heading to Pahalgam will be issued a different slip, while the ones heading to Baltal will be given a separate slip," Singh added. "Apart from pasting a slip on the windscreen of the vehicle we will also provide a slip to the driver, mentioning the registration details of the vehicle and license number, so that if in any case the slip at the front of the vehicle is lost the driver can ensure a hassle free journey by showing the other slip provided to him," he said. PTI