The security review meeting for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which was scheduled to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, has been postponed to June 12.
Official sources said the meeting would now be held in New Delhi, and senior officials from Jammu and Kashmir have been informed of the changed schedule. The meeting is expected to review all arrangements for the pilgrimage, including security, healthcare, sanitation, accommodation, transportation and other essential facilities to ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra.
It will be attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and heads of various paramilitary forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and senior Army officers are also likely to participate.
From Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Home Secretary Chandraker Bharti, Intelligence chief Nitish Kumar and other senior officers are expected to attend the meeting.
"Going by the number of tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir and the rush for registration for the Amarnath pilgrimage, authorities are expecting a good turnout of yatris this year," sources close to the development said.
The Yatra is likely to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Paramilitary companies recently allotted for Yatra security duties have also started arriving in the region as part of the security arrangements.
According to official estimates, 670 paramilitary companies have been approved by the Union Ministry for deployment on Yatra-related security duties.
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