Alert for Amarnath, Farooq meets PM

Jul 11, 2010 - Age Correspondent |

New Delhi

Following intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based militant outfits may try to disturb the Amarnath yatra in J&K, the Centre has now sounded a high alert on Saturday for security agencies asking them to remain vigilant during the two-month-long period that it is on.

The alert came on a day when former J&K chief minister and now Union minister Farooq Abdullah met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P. Chidambaram to discuss the prevailing law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the steps being taken by the Omar Abdullah government to restore peace in the Valley. New and renewable energy minister, Mr Abdullah who returned from abroad on Friday is expected to attend the all-party meeting convened by his son and chief minister Omar Abdullah.
Regarding the alert, government sources said intelligence agencies have intercepted several conversations between militants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and those operating in the Kashmir valley which suggested that they may be planning attacks on the Amarnath pilgrims taking part in the yatra.
“As the attention of the security forces is concentrated on the prevailing unrest in the valley, the militants may try to take advantage of the situation. Therefore, we have asked everyone to be on high alert,” an official said.
The Central government has provided around 8,500 paramilitary force personnel, consisting of an additional 2,200 personnel since last year to ensure foolproof security during the yatra. “We have provided enough securitymen for peaceful completion of the pilgrimage,” the official said. The yatra would conclude on August 25. Curfew was clamped on Tuesday and the Centre moved in the Army at the state government’s request to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order after violent protests shook the valley. Barring Sopore and Pulwama, curfew was lifted temporarily in the Kashmir Valley to allow people to offer prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar on Friday night.

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