REASI, JANUARY 04, 2026: In a continuous effort to streamline the safety and convenience of pilgrims, the District Police Reasi took decisive action against illegal services on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) track today.
During a routine patrol conducted by the Ban Ganga Police Post near Bathing Ghat-01, a police team intercepted a pony operator identified as Gulam Mustafa, a resident of Chumbian, Reasi. Upon inspection, the individual was found to be operating without the mandatory registration or a valid service card.
The suspect admitted to bypassing the official registration process, a direct violation of the regulatory notifications issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Katra.
Following the verification process, a formal case has been registered under FIR No. 04/2026 U/S 223(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Katra Police Station.
The operation was executed by a team led by PSI Rahul Jamwal and Inspector Ranjeet Singh Rao, under the direct supervision of SDPO Katra Dr. Bhishm Dubey and SP Katra Vipan Chandran. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi Paramvir Singh emphasized that these checks are vital for the security of the shrine area and the protection of pilgrims from unregulated service providers.
The district police have warned that strict legal action will persist against any unauthorized operators found violating the established norms on the pilgrimage route.
