Srinagar: A day after a high-level security review meeting was held in Jammu, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired the Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting in Srinagar Tuesday where the Reasi attack and the need for multi-layer security cover for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra dominated the discussions.
The meeting also finalised measures for guarding all major shrines of the Jammu region and launching a massive manhunt to nab the attackers involved in the Reasi attack, local news agency KNO reported.
Quoting sources in the security grid, the news agency said the UHQ meeting was held at Raj Bhavan. Chaired by LG Sinha, the meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dullo, Principal Secretary Home, Director General of Police R R Swain, ADGP Law and order Vijay Kumar, ADGP Jammu, ADGP CID, Principal Secretary to LG, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu regions, GoCs of 9, 15, and 16 Corps, ADG CRPF, IG CRPF (Ops) IG BSF, Kashmir and Jammu, Additional Director IB Jammu besides other officers.
Sources said the meeting after reviewing the preparations by civil administration and security agencies for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, the LG expressed satisfaction and directed the officers to strengthen the security further by deploying joint teams of forces on highways and vulnerable points along the highways.
The annual pilgrimage will start on June 29 and conclude on August 19. The sources revealed that Amarnath Yatra will have stepped up security this time around given the recent attack on Shiv Khori pilgrims in Reasi.
“Hectic deliberations took place in the meeting on the Reasi attack and it was decided to further step up the security cover at all major shrines of Jammu region, especially Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Shiv Khori in Reasi and other shrines,” sources said.
They said the highways and points where tourists and pilgrims normally stop for tea/coffee/snacks, refreshments, lunch, etc will have tight security cover in both Kashmir and Jammu regions.
In the meeting, top security brass was directed to nab the attackers involved in the Reasi attack. It may be recalled that on Monday, LG assured the people that those involved in the attack will be brought to justice.
They said that the meeting also discussed measures to prevent Reasi-like attacks given the fact that Kashmir at present is jam-packed with the tourists and such attacks “are an attempt to disrupt the peaceful situation” in the UT.
As per official figures, till June 10, over 13 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir including a large number of foreign tourists. “In the meeting, all security agencies vowed to work in close coordination to thwart attempts at disrupting the peace in J&K,” the sources said.
This time around, the administration believes that there will be a record number of Amarnath pilgrim arrivals and the total tourist arrivals would break the previous year’s record of 2 crore.
The meeting also discussed the “Eid plan” and measures taken for smooth Eid-ul-Azha prayers across the UT, the news agency reported.
