More than 400 CCTV cameras have been installed and high-rise watchtowers have been erected. Indian forces have also installed modern surveillance infrastructure at important places along the Yatra route and base camps.Mock exercises are also being conducted to assess the preparedness and deal with possible emergencies. As part of the preparedness exercise, a mock drill was conducted at the Nonwan Base Camp in Pahalgam yesterday.

Islamabad district Senior Superintendent of Police Amod Nagpure told an Indian news agency that all necessary arrangements have been made for the yatra and about 140 companies of paramilitary Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed from Islamabad town to Amarnath cave.He said that special units of police, including Markhor teams, Snow Leopard units, Special Operations Group (SOG), Mobile Rescue Teams (MRT) and Quick Reaction Teams (QRT), have also been deployed at strategic locations along the route.

Nagpure said that the entire Islamabad district has been divided into 19 security zones, each of which is supervised by senior police officers. He said checking and searching have also been intensified. He said the army and other forces are carrying out large-scale search operations in the hilly and forest areas and all the routes, tracks, ditches and rivers are being completely checked.

It should be mentioned that, on the one hand, the Indian government is taking large-scale measures to organize the Amarnath Yatra, while on the other, it has taken away the religious rights of Kashmiri Muslims along with other fundamental rights. Kashmiri Muslims are prevented from offering Friday and Eid prayers. The historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar is often sealed.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)