Jammu, Nov 13 A comprehensive security review meeting was held on Friday to assess the overall preparedness at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with top officers also undertaking an extensive on-foot inspection of the twin yatra tracks from Katra to Bhawan, police said.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Udhampur-Reasi Range) Swarn Singh Kotwal along with Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi) Mukund Tibrewal at Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills.
It was also attended by senior officers and representatives of the CRPF, Army, CID, Intelligence Bureau (IB), other security agencies and District Police Reasi, a police spokesman said.
On November 11, three CRPF personnel were injured in a terror attack on their post in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district while on the next day, bullet-riddled bodies of two special police officers were recovered from the remote Dachhan forest area of Kishtwar district.
The spokesman said the prevailing security scenario was thoroughly reviewed and directions were issued to all officers and agencies concerned to further strengthen security arrangements, enhance inter-agency coordination, maintain heightened vigilance and ensure effective security management in view of the prevailing security requirements.
Subsequently, the senior officers, accompanied by representatives of various security agencies, undertook the extensive on-foot security review of both the old and new yatra tracks from Katra to Bhawan, the spokesman said.
He said the inspection included foot patrolling and a detailed assessment of security deployment, surveillance arrangements and other security-related measures along the tracks.
Pilgrim footfall at the Vaishno Devi shrine has witnessed a significant increase, with 83.20 lakh devotees visiting in the first 10 months of this year (January-October), already surpassing the 69.78 lakh recorded during the entire year of 2025.
The figure is also approaching the 94.84 lakh figure recorded during the whole of 2024.
The DIG also reviewed the arrangements pertaining to frisking of pilgrims, baggage screening and security checks at designated points along the yatra routes.
The functioning and deployment of personnel at various police posts established along the tracks were also assessed, with particular emphasis on maintaining effective access control, ensuring round-the-clock vigilance, facilitating the safe movement of pilgrims and providing immediate assistance in case of any emergency, the spokesman said.
He said directions were issued to ensure that all security infrastructure and personnel remain fully operational and responsive to the safety and security requirements of the yatra.
The exercise aimed at assessing ground-level security preparedness, identifying potential vulnerabilities and ensuring seamless coordination among all security agencies for the safety and security of pilgrims visiting the shrine, the spokesman said.
He said all agencies concerned were directed to maintain close coordination, remain alert and ensure prompt response to any emerging security challenges.
(PTI News)
