Security beefed up from Katra to Bhawan and Bhairon Baba temple; forces maintain round-the-clock surveillance during Navratri rush
Katra, October 12: More than 500 high-tech cameras are strengthening the security grid established by Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other security agencies to protect lakhs of devotees visiting the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during Navratri, amid inputs suggesting that terrorists could attempt to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly by targeting religious places in the Jammu region.
With a large number of pilgrims arriving at the shrine during the ongoing festive period, security agencies have intensified surveillance and deployment along the entire pilgrimage route, from the base camp in Katra to the holy Bhawan and the Bhairon Baba temple.
Security arrangements have been strengthened in view of the heavy pilgrim rush as well as the need to remain vigilant against any possible threat to religious places and crowded public locations. Security agencies are maintaining heightened alertness to prevent any attempt to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere during the religious festivities.
Alongside the deployment of security personnel at strategic locations, advanced surveillance technology has become an important component of the security arrangements. More than 500 high-tech cameras have been installed at different locations covering the Katra base camp, the pilgrimage track, the Bhawan and the Bhairon Baba temple.
The extensive camera network enables security personnel to monitor the movement of pilgrims, keep a close watch on crowded stretches and identify suspicious activities. The surveillance system also helps security agencies coordinate their response and react promptly to any emergency or security-related incident.
The cameras are being monitored through a dedicated Command and Control Room established by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Personnel from Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and the Shrine Board remain deployed at the facility round the clock to monitor the pilgrimage route and coordinate with teams operating on the ground.
The combination of physical deployment and technology-based surveillance is aimed at ensuring that security personnel can maintain continuous vigilance, particularly at vulnerable points and locations witnessing a heavy concentration of devotees.
Security agencies are also maintaining close coordination to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims and prevent any disruption to the yatra. The arrangements cover key access points and crowded areas where a prompt response could be crucial in the event of an emergency.
The security measures assume added significance in view of intelligence inputs indicating that terrorists could attempt to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir, including through possible attacks on religious places in the Jammu region. However, specific details of any potential threat to the Vaishno Devi shrine have not been provided in the information available.
With Navratri drawing devotees from across the country, security agencies are relying on a multi-layered security framework involving personnel on the ground, round-the-clock CCTV surveillance and coordinated monitoring to safeguard pilgrims.
