Jammu Kashmir is likely to receive 300 additional companies of paramilitary troopers for the annual Hindu pilgrimage to Amarnath.
As per a news report by Daily Excelsior, a high-level review will be conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs that will involve high-ranking officials from the police and civil administration, focusing particularly on the additional deployment of paramilitary forces to ensure the smooth running of the pilgrimage.
Quoting unnamed officials, the Jammu based newspaper reported the Jammu Kashmir Police is preparing to request an additional 300 paramilitary companies for the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji.
Additionally, 200 companies will be mobilized internally for this purpose.
The pilgrimage that has been extended this year to 62 years is scheduled to begin on July 1 and and conclude on August 31.
According to officials, Jammu Kashmir may need to manage with an additional 250 paramilitary companies, although a final decision will be made after discussions between the Home Ministry, Jammu Kashmir Police, and the civil administration this week.
In the previous year, the pilgrimage lasted for 44 days, during which 3.65 lakh Yatris from all over the country performed darshan of the holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva at the cave shrine.
It is expected that the number of pilgrims will increase this year.
In 2022, the pilgrimage took place after a two-year hiatus.
It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and only the ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (the holy mace of Lord Shiva) was taken for darshan while all other rituals were performed.