JAMMU: Following renewed threats by Some groups and bomb blasts in Jammu city, the administration has decided to deploy nearly 40,000 Jawans drawn from the Army, BSF, CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police for the smooth conduct of the Amarath yatra, scheduled to start on August 5 here.

According to highly placed sources, the Army has taken over the operational command of the entire yatra arrangements.

The two blasts in Jammu in areas near the Rambireshwar temple, where sadhus have already. started assembling for the yatra, clearly indicate militants resolve to create trouble

during the yatra_ The Harkat fit, Which has “banned” the yatra, has already claimed responsibility for both these blasts. Another outfit, the Khalistan Liberation Force (Shaheed), has also reportedly claimed responsibility for the second blast near the Ranbireshwar temple. Both these outfits have threatened (9 disrupt the yatra.

Security forces are already setting up check posts and bunkers all along the 49 km track from Pahal gam to the holy shrine, situated at a height of more than 15,000 feet, Army has formed. special “crack teams,” The vehicles carrying devotees will be taken in a convoy escorted by Army troops.

The sources said that in view of the threats to the local population, including transporters, ponywalas and government officials, the administration was making alternate arrangements from Jammu.

More than 40 private matadors and required number of ponies will be sent from Katra (Vaishno Devi).

About 150 government officials, including teams of doctors, will also be dispatched from here. The yatra will officially begin, on August 5, when the devotees, led by mahant Deepinder Giri, will leave Jammu with the holy mace. The yatra will reach the base camp at ‘Chandanwari on August 7 and then begin the trek for a “darshan’ of the ice-lingam at the holy shrine of Amarnath

A group of 40 devotees have already reached the cave and started puja ceremonies.

The reports reaching here from the holy eave said that unlike last year when the holy ice-lingam had disappeared, this year it was about 10 to 12 feet high, in another interesting development, a “Sheshnag ice statue” had also formed after a gap of nearly 40 years.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 4, 1995