MHA flags stone-pelters equal threats as militants

Vyas, Vaid attend security meeting

JAMMU: Indicating a tough action this summer, the Union Home Ministry has described the stone pelters as an equal threat as militants and sounded caution ahead of the Amarnath pilgrimage.
The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi today chaired a high level meeting in New Delhi to discuss the latest security situation in Kashmir. The meeting was also attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BB Vyas and Director General of Police SP Vaid as well as Ashok Prasad, former DG of J&K Police, who is currently an Advisor to the Home Ministry on Kashmir affairs.
Stone pelting mobs and militants pose equal threat to the annual Amarnath pilgrimage that begins June 29, Prasad said after the meeting.
More than 27,000 security personnel will be deployed along the route to ensure that all goes peacefully, he said after a high-level meeting to discuss security arrangements for the pilgrimage to the high-altitude shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The meeting was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and attended by top officials of the state and central governments.
"There are equal threats from militants and stone pelters. All threats are being taken care of," Advisor in the Home Ministry Ashok Prasad said when asked whether stone pelting mobs could be the biggest threat to the 40-day pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine located at a height of 3,888 metres.
Security forces will take into consideration all issues before finalising the security plan, he said in response to a question on the possible impact of the destruction of Pakistan Army posts by the Indian Army.
"Definitely, we will make all efforts to ensure a peaceful pilgrimage," Prasad said.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has sought around 27,000 security personnel from the central government, mostly Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Last year, around 20,000 paramilitary personnel besides state police personnel were deployed along the route.
Though there are no specific threats to the pilgrims, the central and Jammu and Kashmir governments are taking no chances and ordered all possible steps to ensure foolproof security, officials said.
During the meeting, Mehrishi is said to have directed all agencies concerned to keep a close watch and maintain effective coordination to ensure all goes smoothly.
Notwithstanding the continuing unrest in the Kashmir Valley, there has been no drop in the number of devotees who have enrolled for the arduous trek, an official said. So far, around 1.80 lakh pilgrims have registered.
Around 2.20 lakh pilgrims had offered prayers at the naturally formed ice-Shivlingam last year. The shrine is located 46 km from Pahalgam and 14 km from Baltal.
The Amarnath yatra will conclude on August 7.