The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Government ordered the deputation of 57 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service officers to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) on a short-term basis.

As per the communiqué, the officers will be deployed as Camp Directors and Additional Camp Directors at various camps along the route of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2024.

It said that the Controlling Officers are instructed to relieve the selected officers so they can report to the office of the Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, on a date that will be communicated by the Board separately. The exact deployment of the officers will be determined by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

During their deputation, the officers will continue to draw their salaries from their current places of posting. They will return to their respective positions immediately after the conclusion of the Yatra 2024, it further said.

The arrangement ensures that the necessary administrative support is provided for the smooth conduct of the Yatra, while maintaining the officers' employment terms and conditions, it added.

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SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that the local residents are making immense contributions to the successful conduct of the Yatra that will commence on July 1.

In a series of tweets, Office of LG J&K, as per the news agency KNS said that it will also increase livelihood opportunities and boost the local economy.

He said that to mark the ceremonial beginning of the Annual Amarnath Yatra, he attended Pratham Puja via video conferencing. “For millions of devotees all over the world, pilgrimage to the Holy Cave of Baba Amarnath is a cherished life-long dream.”

https://twitter.com/OfficeOfLGJandK/status/1664878204480520192

He said that the government is committed to ensuring that the best possible arrangements are put in place for the comfort and well-being of pilgrims. “Dedicated efforts have been made in the last few years to bring about perceptible improvements in infrastructure and other facilities.”

He added that the officials of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board are working hard to ensure that the needs and requirements of devotees are taken care of during the Yatra. “We are constantly striving for better facilities and services for pilgrims.”

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NEW DELHI — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following several targeted civilian killings, including Kashmiri Pandits, in the Union Territory, officials said.

As per an official, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Chief Arvind Kumar, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Kuldeep Singh, Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir Dilbag Singh, Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhary among other officers from Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) attended the meeting while Amarnathji Shrine Board members participated through video conferencing.

The meeting comes days after Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla convened a similar meeting to review the security preparedness for the annual pilgrimage. Bhalla has so far held two similar meetings – one on May 13 here in Delhi and another in Jammu and Kashmir on April 15.

As per sources, the Home Minister will be apprised of security updates and the department of Central Armed Police Forces on specific locations during the pilgrimage as well as the situation in the region.

They said that resuming the Amarnath pilgrimage is a challenging task as Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed several incidences of targeted killings in the last few months by militants following which the Ministry of Home Affairs asked security agencies operating in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance counter-militant operations.

The online registration for Amarnath Yatra 2022 started on April 11 and the Home Ministry has already sanctioned nearly 50 companies of CAPF to provide security during the pilgrimage as J&K is expecting nearly three lakh pilgrims to visit the Amarnath cave shrine this year.

While online registration has already begun, the pilgrimage is scheduled to be held for 43 days between June 30 and August 11.

The Amarnath shrine pilgrimage to the 3,880 metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is held from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

The J&K administration had cancelled the annual Amarnath pilgrimage due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in 2020 and 2021 after a discussion with Amarnathji Shrine Board members.

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SRINAGAR — This year’s Amarnath pilgrimage will be historic in the history of Jammu and Kashmir as six to eight lakh pilgrims are expected to perform the Darshan of Shiv Lingam at the Cave shrine of Amarnath in Pahalgam area of the southern district of Anantnag, Secretary of Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Apurva Chand said on Monday.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Chand, as per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that this year Amarnath Yatra will be one of the biggest yatras in history of J&K as around 6-8 lakh pilgrims are expected to arrive on the pilgrimage.

“Today, I met the officials of the administration including Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners. We were told that this year it will be a historic pilgrimage and for that, all the necessary arrangements have been put in place,” Chand said.

He said that so far the weather challenge was natural and out of the hands of officials. “But as far as security arrangement is concerned, that has already improved a lot as seen by the number of tourists visiting the Valley. Hotels, houseboats and lodges are booked in advance which signifies a good security atmosphere,” Chand said.

He said that LG J&K Manoj Sinha has recently stated that in just a few months, 80 lakh tourists visited UT, which is a record number. “This itself hints that the atmosphere is peaceful,” he said.

He said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has urged the J&K administration to prepare a short documentary on Amarnath Yatra and also the beautiful places of Kashmir. “We will widely circulate that documentary across the country and outside,” he said.

Registration for Amarnath Yatra 2022 begins

The registration for Annual Shri Amarnath Yatra, in the Himalayan heights, has begun throughout the country and abroad including Jammu with many enthusiastic pilgrims getting their registration done on the very first day.

The Yatra is set to resume after over two years, which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

The pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine will commence on June 30 and conclude on August 11.

As per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in Jammu, many pilgrims thronged PNB branches where the special arrangement was conducted for the registration.

The Board is expecting an average footfall of more than three lakh pilgrims in the shrine this year.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Nitishwar Kumar said that the registration will start at 446 branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab National Bank, Yes Bank, and 100 branches of SBI across the country.

He said the pilgrims can also register online through the website and mobile app of the shrine Board.

Nitishwar Kumar said that a Yatri Niwas is being readied in the Ramban district which can accommodate 3600 pilgrims.

The Amarnath Shrine Board is expecting a footfall of more than three lakh pilgrims this year.

He said the Board has decided to start Yatra from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes simultaneously. The shrine Board CEO said only 10,000 pilgrims will be allowed in a day on each route, excluding those travelling by helicopter.

Nitishwar Kumar said the government will introduce a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for pilgrims to track their movement.

The Amarnath Yatra could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in 2019, the Yatra was suspended a few days before August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, dividing the state into two union territories.

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