Latest news with #Yatra
News18
3 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Terror Threat To Amarnath Yatra: Intel Agencies Warn Of TRF-Led Attack, Security Review On
Security forces have been strategically deployed along the route to ensure rapid response capabilities across all key points. Indian intelligence agencies issued an alert last week warning of a potential terror attack being planned during the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Sources confirm that the intelligence input has been shared with all local police units and central security forces. A senior official told News18 that the alert specifically names The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the group behind the recent Pahalgam attack, as planning an attack on the Yatra. Security forces have been strategically deployed along the route to ensure rapid response capabilities across all key points. However, there is growing concern that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack remain at large and have not yet been neutralised. They can be hiding in Pir Panjal Jungle planning another attack. Notably, Pahalgam is a critical route for pilgrims heading to the holy cave and every day 15,000 people will use this route and 15,000 will use Baltal route to reach Holy Cave. The major concern is not only with Pahalgam route but also with Baltal route which is most preferred route for pilgrims. Officials aware of the input said that it is not the only alert raised by central agencies. In light of the threat, senior government officials are closely monitoring the situation. This week, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and the Director General of the CRPF visited Jammu and Kashmir to assess Yatra security preparations. Additionally, top-level officials from the Intelligence Bureau have already conducted reviews on the ground. Due to the heightened threat, the area has been declared a no-fly zone, and helicopter services for pilgrims have been suspended this year. The entire region has been divided into smaller security zones further divided into pockets with multiple agencies deployed for comprehensive protection. 'It is likely that security concerns may lead to cancellations by many pilgrims, particularly those who registered before the Pahalgam attack," a senior government official told News18. 'The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board is monitoring the situation and tracking the number of expected cancellations. Also, registered persons may be contacted for reconfirmation." All pilgrims planning to visit the Holy Shrine during this Yatra have been advised to take note of no helicopter services. Pilgrims may reach the Holy Cave Shrine on foot or avail the services of ponies and palkis throughout the Yatra. First Published: June 20, 2025, 11:10 IST
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Security bolstered at key Amarnath Yatra points
New Delhi Security forces, along with the Jammu and Kashmir police, have already sealed and secured the base camps, Yatri Niwas, and the starting points of the Amarnath Yatra, officials said, adding that due to the heightened alert following the Pahalgam attack, the locations were secured almost three weeks before the start of the Yatra, unlike previous years when the camps and locations were sealed only a week in advance. The Yatra from July 3 to August 9 is being held amid a high alert following Operation Sindoor and heightened security preparations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack two months ago. The duration of the Yatra this year is shorter, 38 days in comparison to last year's 52. In a bid to bolster security, the Union home ministry has sanctioned an additional 581 companies of paramilitary forces for the pilgrimage, which is the highest to date. Last year, the number was around 510. The 581 companies include all the central armed police forces. 'On Wednesday, union home secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting with senior officers from all forces in Srinagar. All top officials of the army, paramilitary forces, J&K police, and administration were present in the meeting. It was decided that paramilitary forces and police will remain on guard even at night,' one official, who asked not to be named, said. During the weekend, CRPF's top officials, including DG GP Singh were in Jammu and Kashmir to review the arrangements. The CRPF is the nodal force for all paramilitary forces involved in the security arrangements. A CRPF statement said that a high-level meeting was held in Srinagar by the CRPF, after which its top officials visited the cave, base camp, and other strategic locations along the pilgrimage route. Additionally, forces have also stepped up surveillance and secured the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu from where the pilgrims will start their journey to Kashmir via the National Highway. Last week, top Jammu and Kashmir police officials, including police chief Nalin Prabhat also visited the base camp, from where the first batch of pilgrims will move towards Kashmir on July 2. The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board on June 17 announced that vide a government order, all routes of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra—including both the Pahalgam and Baltal axes— have been declared as a 'No Flying Zone' from July 1 to August 10, 2025, and chopper services would not be available for pilgrims.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi home minister reviews preparations ahead of Kanwar Yatra
Delhi home minister Ashish Sood on Thursday held a meeting to review preparations for the Kanwar Yatra that begins next month. Sood said that Kanwar organising committees will be provided with all necessary administrative support at a single window system. 'A single-window system will be set up at the district magistrate offices to facilitate approvals and permissions from various departments in a streamlined manner. The safety, service, and convenience of hundreds of thousands of devotees entering Delhi during the yatra will be a top priority,' he added. The Kanwar Yatra is a religious tradition where millions of devotees collect water from the Ganga at Haridwar, Gangotri and other sacred places to offer at Shiva temples in the month of Savan. Every year, thousands of kanwars pass through Delhi en route to other states. Sood said all departments have been directed to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience on their designated routes. 'Arrangements related to sanitation, drinking water, uninterrupted electricity supply, and traffic management will be made in a timely, coordinated, and effective manner. We have instructed power department officials to ensure that any issues related to electricity disruptions or leakage risks during rains are addressed promptly during the Yatra days,' he added. The meeting was held with representatives of the fire services department, police, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, power department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Sood also directed police to monitor sound systems in camps located near residential areas and ensure that devotional songs played over loudspeakers are limited to permitted hours to avoid disturbing local residents. Police personnel have been asked to politely request pilgrims to avoid playing loud music late at night. Coordination with police forces of neighbouring states has also been advised to ensure the safety and welfare of pilgrims. The Delhi Fire Services has been asked to prepare a plan for deploying small fire tenders near Kanwar camps to respond quickly in case of fire-related emergencies and prevent any mishaps.
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uninterrupted power, extra police personnel to ensure smooth journey for Kanwar yatris: Delhi Home Minister
Home Minister Ashish Sood said the Power department has been instructed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply along the yatri camps during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra. On Thursday, Mr. Sood chaired a review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to take stock of the preparations for the pilgrimage. The Yatra is expected to begin from the first week of July. 'The meeting was held with representatives of the fire department, the police, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, the power department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi,' Mr. Sood said. He said a single-window system will be set up at the District Magistrates' offices to facilitate the approvals and permissions the Kanwar organising committees would need for the pilgrimage. Mr. Sood also said the Delhi Fire Services have been directed to deploy fire tenders near yatri camps to ensure quick response in case of fire-related emergencies. The Delhi police has been ordered to deploy an adequate number of male and female personnel along the route to maintain law and order, he added. The Minister said the police have also been asked to monitor the sound systems in the camps and ensure the yatris do not play loud music at night. The Capital is coordinating with the police forces of the neighbouring States to ensure that the Yatra is celebrated smoothly, as the Kanwar Yatra is the first event to be celebrated in the city since the BJP government came to power, he added.
India.com
15 hours ago
- India.com
Amarnath Yatra: Facial Recognition System Flags First Suspect, Alleged OGW Detained Langanbal
In view of the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025, the Anantnag Police has enhanced security measures to ensure a safe and peaceful pilgrimage. As part of these initiatives, high-resolution Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras have been installed at multiple locations along the Pahalgam-to-cave route, including Langanbal Naka — a key checkpoint on the Yatra path. Today, during routine surveillance using the newly installed FRS, the system successfully flagged a suspicious individual whose facial data matched entries in the security database. Upon immediate verification and investigation, the individual was identified as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) affiliated with a terrorist outfit, according to a statement by Anantnag Police on X. The suspect was promptly taken into custody, and a detailed investigation is currently underway to ascertain his links and any potential threats. This successful identification and detention underscore the effectiveness of the Facial Recognition System in preemptive threat detection and maintaining public safety. The FRS, part of the enhanced security framework for the Yatra, has been deployed along the Pahalgam route and other paths leading to the holy cave. The system provides real-time alerts — including a hooter at the surveillance center — to identify blacklisted individuals, such as active terrorists and suspected OGWs, by analyzing facial features against a secure database. This technology-driven approach is aimed at ensuring a secure pilgrimage by deterring potential threats and strengthening surveillance across the Yatra corridors. The operation highlights the Anantnag Police's broader efforts to leverage technology for public safety during high-profile events like the Amarnath Yatra, especially amid heightened security concerns in the region.
