Kathua security review meeting held ahead of Amarnath Yatra 2026
KATHUA, June 16 — Senior Superintendent of Police Mohita Sharma chaired a comprehensive joint security review meeting at the Conference Hall of District Police Lines Kathua to evaluate security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026.
The high-level meeting was attended by various top police and Central Armed Police Forces officials, including the Additional SP Kathua, SP Ops Border Kandi Kathua, SP Ops Upper Kathua, and Deputy SP Telecom Kathua, alongside all Central Armed Police Forces Assistant Commandants, supervisory officers, station house officers, and in-charges of police posts from across the district.
During the meeting, Sharma presented a detailed overview covering security protocols, surveillance measures, convoy management, Quick Reaction Team deployment, and emergency response strategies specifically tailored for the 2026 pilgrimage. The Senior Superintendent of Police emphasized the critical need for maximum alertness, strict adherence to security protocols, and maintaining pilgrim-friendly conduct throughout the duration of the yatra.
Supervisory officers received strict directives to fortify the existing security grid by conducting regular inspections of community kitchens, lodgement centers, and other transit facilities. Sharma highlighted the importance of keeping a close watch on suspicious movements and anti-national elements, urging officers to step up intelligence collection and ensure rapid information sharing with intelligence agencies and relevant stakeholders.
Special focus was placed on securing the Border National Highway and the local railway network through continuous domination patrols, strategic checkpoints, and round-the-clock surveillance. The district police chief also ordered the immediate completion of verification drives for tenants, hotel and dhaba staff, and factory workers along the highway to mitigate any potential security threats near the pilgrimage route.
To enhance surveillance and response capabilities, the security plan mandates the intensive use of drone monitoring, the installation of X-ray baggage scanners, and the deployment of specialized dog squads for anti-sabotage checks at crucial hubs like the Lakhanpur Base Camp.
Sharma concluded by calling for seamless inter-agency coordination between the police, paramilitary forces, civil administration, traffic police, and health services, while demanding high operational readiness and expanded closed-circuit television coverage to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.