Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting on Thursday in Jammu to assess preparations and threat management ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, which will take place from July 3 to August 9 this year. The meeting came amid heightened security concerns following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.

The strategic review session was attended by several key figures, including Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Deka, J&K Police Chief Nalin Prabhat, and top leadership from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and local administration.

The focus of the meeting was to ensure foolproof security for the annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir, particularly since one of the pilgrimage routes—via Chandanwari—passes through Pahalgam, where the recent terror attack occurred.

In a coordinated effort to bolster security, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General GP Singh visited the Nunwan base camp on Thursday to assess preparedness on the ground. Meanwhile, Border Security Force (BSF) chief Daljit Chawdhary reviewed security in the volatile Poonch area, which saw hostilities during Operation Sindoor earlier this month. He is also expected to inspect parts of the Amarnath Yatra route over the weekend.

Sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that 581 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for the Yatra. The deployment includes personnel from CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, and ITBP, with CRPF fielding the largest share at 219 companies.

The sanctioned strength of each CRPF company ranges between 120 and 130 personnel depending on the terrain and threat level. A senior CRPF official, requesting anonymity, said that over the past two days, security reviews have been conducted in both Srinagar and Jammu, including aerial surveys of the pilgrimage route.

Meanwhile, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), tasked with shrine protection, is also ramping up its security plan. Top ITBP officials are expected to conduct their own reviews shortly.

Last year’s Amarnath Yatra saw record-breaking participation with over 512,000 pilgrims making the journey — the highest in over a decade, according to Union home ministry data. The government aims to ensure a secure and seamless experience this year, even as threats loom larger than before.

Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Poonch on Friday, where he will meet families affected by cross-border shelling during Operation Sindoor, underlining the Centre’s focus on both security preparedness and humanitarian outreach.