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Security for Amarnath shrine pilgrimage
Baltal
(Jammu and Kashmir): Paramilitary soldiers and policemen have begun
preparations for the annual pilgrimage to a hugely revered and popular
Amarnath cave shrine. Security drills are being put in place in the wake
of terrorists having targetted innocent pilgrims while they travelled
towards the shrine. Hundreds of Hindus will begin an arduous trek next
week to the Amarnath cave to worship an ice stalagmite regarded as a phallic
symbol of Lord Shiva, the Hindu God of Destruction. The authorities say
they are taking no chances and have deployed thousands of soldiers along
the treacherous 30-mile mountain track. Devotees and tourists will be
divided into small batches, each of which will be security checked at
Srinagar and at a series of police posts before reaching the base camp
at Baltal. Officials say they are putting in place a three-tier surveillance,
complete with chopper surveys, specially trained commando lookouts and
hundreds of foot soldiers frisking the mountain range. The two-month long
pilgrimage has often been targeted by Muslim rebels, but the last two
years have been peaceful. "I believe that by the 11th (June) everything
will be ready and on our part we have beefed up security arrangement all
over the camps. Considering recent developments we are definitely ready
for any eventuality right now," Michael, an Assistant Commandant of the
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), said.
-June 5, 2006
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