DIG Sarah Rizvi Reviews Katra Security Grid to Ensure Safe Navratra Festival for Pilgrims
KATRA, March 17, 2026 — In anticipation of the upcoming Navratra Festival, Sarah Rizvi, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, chaired a high-level joint security review meeting at Katra to fortify preparedness for the holy event.
The session brought together a multi-agency task force, including the SSP Reasi, the Commanding Officer of the CRPF 6th Battalion, and senior representatives from the Army, Intelligence Bureau, CID, Railways, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. During the proceedings, a comprehensive security strategy was unveiled, focusing on a robust grid plan that covers Katra town, the primary yatra trekking routes, and the Bhawan area.
Rizvi emphasized that providing a foolproof security umbrella for the thousands of arriving devotees is the administration’s absolute priority, ensuring the festival remains peaceful and spiritually fulfilling.
To achieve this, the DIG issued a series of strategic directives, including the immediate establishment of random checkpoints for intensified vehicle screening and the commencement of 24/7 joint long-range patrolling by the Jammu & Kashmir Police and CRPF.
The security plan further integrates enhanced foot patrols, ridge-top deployments, and the activation of Village Defence Groups (VDGs) to maintain total area domination.
Beyond anti-sabotage measures, special attention was directed toward scientific crowd management to prevent mishaps such as stampedes. Rizvi also mandated rigorous verification drives for all migrant workers, pony porters, and construction staff, alongside frequent inspections of local hotels and lodgings to monitor visitor antecedents.
The meeting concluded with a call for seamless inter-agency coordination, ensuring that every logistical and security detail is synchronized for a hassle-free pilgrimage.