Amarnath Yatra: Intelligence agencies warn of terror strike, MHA assures security

There are intelligence reports about militants planning to attack the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi: Intelligence agencies have issued a warning that militants may launch a terror strike on the auspicious Amarnath Yatra, media reports quoted Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sources as saying on Tuesday.

The warning comes days after Hizbul Mujhadeen commander assured a terror free region for the pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir.

22-year old Burhan Muzaffar Wani had assured in a video that their group have no plans to target the Hindu pilgrims while they are on their way for the pilgrimage.

However, a top Border Security Force (BSF) officer had said last month that there were intelligence reports about militants planning to attack the Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting about the situation today, a senior Home Ministry official later said that adequate central paramilitary forces have been provided to Jammu and Kashmir to ensure fool-proof security during the Amarnath Yatra beginning July 2.

"There is no specific threat to the 48-day long Yatra to the cave shrine in Himalayas but all security arrangements have been made by the state government with active support of the central government," the official said, as per PTI.

Temporary communications infrastructure has been set up, route deployment and other logistical details are being put in place for the safe voyage of pilgrims in the annual Yatra.

"We are leaving nothing to chance. We are making all out effort to ensure foolproof security to the Yatra," the official added.

A large number of central paramilitary forces drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police along with J&K police will throw a strong security ring along the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Chandanwari in Anantnag district.

A high-level meeting, chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, on Friday reviewed security preparedness for the Amarnath Yatra.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police K Rajendra, CRPF DG K Durga Prasad, senior officials of BSF and the Home Ministry participated in the meeting.

They discussed threadbare the deployment of central security forces and other arrangements to keep the Yatra safe.

The annual Amarnath Yatra to the Himalayan Hindu cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled be concluded on August 24.

The schedule and arrangements for this year's pilgrimage were discussed in a meeting, chaired by Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.

It was also informed that, based on the weather conditions, the access control gates at Domel and Chandanwari will be closed at 11 am every day, after which no pilgrim will be allowed to proceed on the tracks. Pilgrims were also asked to avoid staying at the shrine for the night as the temperature drops sharply after sunset.

The annual pilgrimage, undertaken by Hindu devotees to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, gets concluded on the occasion of Shravan Purnima, amid chanting of hymns in the spiritual ambience of south Kashmir Himalayas.

Amarnath, gets concluded on the occasion of Shravan Purnima, amid chanting of hymns in the spiritual ambience of south Kashmir Himalayas.