In the wake of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, security personnel deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, especially those in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)will be equipped with high-tech gadgets. Sources said these gadgets are being used for the first time during the annual pilgrimage of Hindus amid specific concern regarding the use of “sticky bombs” by terrorists.
The nature of these special gadgets, which are withheld due to security reasons, are learnt to be used for some specific purpose, said a source in security wind requesting anonymity, adding that “these gadgets include some of them manufactured by Israel”.
Besides, the source said, the number of drones for surveillance is being increased during the pilgrimage and it is estimated that over 50 are to be used only on twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.
For the first time, another officer in the CRPF said, an “integrated” effort is being put across all forces concerned including Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Jammu and Kashmir administration and Amarnathji Shrine Board members.
Meanwhile, the officer said security agencies are concerned over terrorist groups possessing “sticky bombs” — explosives that can be attached to vehicles and detonated remotely — and are reshaping their standard operating procedure for the pilgrimage which is all set to start on June 30 after a gap of two years.
The inputs came during the interrogation of arrested terrorists and their sympathisers and other evidence which suggests that while some “sticky bombs” have been recovered by security forces, many of them may have found their way into terror groups in Kashmir Valley, said the officer.
“As the sticky bombs can be only used in unattended civilian vehicles, the message is being circulated not to leave any vehicle unattended,” said the officer. About three lakh pilgrims are likely to take part in the pilgrimage to the cave shrine located in the upper reaches of south Kashmir.
