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India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Srinagar: Senior police officials distribute water among Shia mourners participating in Muharram procession
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 4 (ANI): Senior police officials of the Jammu and Kashmir police distributed water bottles among the Shia mourners who participated in the Muharram procession on Friday. According to IGP Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, the J-K police and officials have made security-related arrangements to ensure that the 'Azadars' do not face any kind of problem. He informed that traffic regulations were also imposed as the procession was being held in the main area of the city. 'For the 8th of Muharram, the Jammu and Kashmir police and civil authorities have made various security-related arrangements, ensuring that the Azadars visiting here do not face any problems. Apart from this, because a procession is taking place in the Main area, traffic advisories were also issued', VK Birdi told reporters. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir police are in contact with the organisers and other officials to ensure all security and traffic arrangements are made for the Azadars and the public. 'Regarding the 10th of Muharram, in various locations, all the organisers, J&K Police, and the District Superintendent of Police are in contact to ensure the entire facility and all security and traffic arrangements are made for the Azadars and the public', VK Birdi said. People gathered in large numbers on the roads of Srinagar ahead of the traditional Muharram procession on Friday. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said, 'This is the third consecutive year when Muharram is being observed. The District Administration has made all necessary arrangements for the 'azadaars'. Police arrangements have been made keeping safety and security in mind... I urge everyone to keep the procession limited to its religious significance... Amarnath Yatra is also going on simultaneously...' Muharram holds significant religious importance for Shia Muslims. In India, the 7-8 crore Shia Muslim community, along with people of different religions, participate in large processions and tazias. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Security forces conduct mockdrills in Kashmir ahead of Amarnath Yatra
Jun 26, 2025 08:56 AM IST Ahead of Amarnath Yatra, security forces conducted mock drills at various places in Kashmir on Wednesday. Jammu and Kashmir Police Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel during a mock drill on coordination and emergency response, ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, at a transit camp at Pantha Chowk, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Wednesday. (PTI) The yatra will begin on July 3 and will conclude on August 8. The drills were held at various places on the route of yatra, camps and other places. It was part of an exercise to meet any contingency. Inspector general of police Vidhi Kumar Birdi said that the Amarnath yatra begins from next week and J&K Police and other security agencies had made all the security arrangements. 'Compared to previous years this time in depth and multi-layered security arrangements have been made for security of yatra. We have distributed security of yatra in zones and sectors and today in Kashmir at every place weather camps, roads or interior sections SOP drills were conducted. The aim of these drills is to make constigency response more refined.' J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah had already urged yatris to visit in good numbers as adequate security arrangements are already in place.
United News of India
25-06-2025
- United News of India
Multi-layered security to make Amarnath Yatra safe: IGP Kashmir
Srinagar, June 25 (UNI) With the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra set to begin on July 3, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have put in place elaborate, multi-layered arrangements to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage, which draws thousands of devotees to the holy cave shrine located in the Himalayas. Addressing media after a mock exercise in south Kashmir, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, said that this year's Yatra will be held under heightened vigilance and deeper security coordination compared to previous years. 'As compared to last year, this time we have multi-layered and in-depth security arrangements to make the Yatra safe and comfortable for the pilgrims,' Birdi said. To streamline security operations, the entire Yatra security arrangements has been divided into multiple zones and sectors, spanning both the Pahalgam and Baltal tracks. Each zone has a dedicated security layout, and today Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) drills were carried out to test readiness and refine emergency response protocols. 'The drills have been conducted across the valley, including base camps, road stretches, interior sections, and other key locations. The aim is to enhance coordination among all security units and ensure that everyone knows their specific responsibilities in case of any contingency,' the IGP explained. According to officials, the mock drills involved joint participation from J&K Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), emergency response units, disaster management authorities, medical teams, and traffic regulators. The coordinated simulation exercises focused on quick response, evacuation, and communication efficiency in case of any security threat or natural emergency like landslides or cloudbursts. IGP Birdi also underscored the importance of public cooperation, stating that the success of the Yatra has historically depended on the active support of local communities. 'These yatras have always been successful because of the wholehearted support of local people. This year too, there is tremendous enthusiasm among the locals to welcome the pilgrims, assist them, and ensure they have a safe and memorable experience,' he said. UNI MJR PRS
United News of India
31-05-2025
- United News of India
IGP Kashmir reviews security ahead of Kheer Bhawani mela
Srinagar, May 31 (UNI) Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Vidhi Kumar Birdi on Saturday reviewed the security arrangements ahead of Kheer Bhawani Mela. The main function of Mela Kheer Bhawani is scheduled to be held on June 3 at the village of Tulmulla in the Ganderbal district. 'All arrangements are in place to facilitate the devotees while tight security arrangements are also put in place,' the IGP said. He said that necessary arrangements, along with heightened security, are made for the devotees expected to visit the temple not only from within the parts of Jammu and Kashmir but from across the country. A batch of Kashmiri Pandit devotees will also be flagged off for Ganderbal district from Jammu on Sunday. UNI VBH BD
United News of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Recalibrated strategy post-Pahalgam led to killing of 6 militants: Forces
Srinagar, May 16 (UNI) After Pahalgam terror attack, security forces recalibrated their counter-terrorism strategy that helped them to eliminate six local militants, including two commanders, in south Kashmir in 48 hours. Since Tuesday, three militants each of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad were killed in two separate encounters in south Kashmir's Shopian and Awantipora. In a joint media briefing by the police, Army and the CRPF, the officers said the success of these two operations was due to the 'seamless coordination' between the security and intelligence agencies. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi said the Pahalgam terror attack prompted a comprehensive review of the existing security strategy. "In the wake of heightened terror activities in Kashmir Valley, all the security forces deployed here reviewed their strategies. Following the review, there was an intensified focus on operations. On the basis of this intensified focus and coordination, we conducted two successful operations in the last 48 hours during which we had significant achievement. Six terrorists were neutralised in both the operations,' said Birdhi who was flanked by General Officer Commanding of Army's Victor Force, Major General Dhananjay Joshi and IG CRPF Mitesh Jain. Birdhi said the operations -- one in Shopian and another in Tral Awantopora -- were due to the seamless coordination among the CRPF, the Indian Army, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. He also acknowledged the vital role played by intelligence agencies. IGP Kashmir said all security agencies were determined here to end the terror ecosystem or any terrorist activity. GOC, Victor Force, Major General Joshi said while briefing on Operation Naddar Tral and Keller Shopian said after the Pahalgam terror attack security forces targeted certain areas in a focused way. He said both operations were carried out in different terrains — one in the dense high-altitude forests of Shopian, and the other in the populated village of Tral in Pulwama district. 'As we were receiving intelligence inputs that the terrorist groups have now shifted to higher reaches in the jungles after the melting of the snow. And keeping this in mind, our domination parties were continuously deployed there,' the Army officer said in the press conference. He said on the night of the May 12, they got an input about the presence of a terrorist group in the upper reaches of Kellar , in Shopian. 'Parties were already deployed in these areas repositioned themselves. On the morning of May 13, our troops noticed suspicious movement in the high-altitude forests of Kailar. When challenged, the terrorists opened fire, triggering an encounter," the officer said. Despite the treacherous terrain and difficult operating conditions, the troops successfully neutralized the militants after a fierce gunfight, he said. In the second operation in Tral, the officer said the challenge was different. 'Acting on specific intelligence that a group of terrorists was hiding in a village, security forces quickly cordoned off the area. The terrorist tried to exploit the presence of civilians by taking up positions inside multiple houses. Our primary concern was to evacuate the villagers, including women, children, and elderly, without any harm," the officer said. 'After ensuring the safe evacuation of civilians, security forces conducted a systematic house-to-house search, ultimately neutralizing the hiding terrorists in separate locations within the village,' he added. He said the two operations underline the adaptability and resolve of troops, whether in challenging high-altitude forests or densely populated villages He said one of the slain militants, Shahid Kuttay, a local commander of the Lashkar, was involved in multiple attacks, including the killing of a sarpanch and an attack on a foreign tourist at a resort. His associate, killed alongside him in the Shopian operation, was also wanted for the killing of a local non-migrant civilian, the officer added. The Army officer said that the elimination of these two terror modules will severely dent the operational capabilities of militant groups active in the region. The IG CRPF said these two operations have been possible because of the coordination and professional execution of security forces. 'I would like to assure you all that this coordination will remain the same in the future and, through this, we will be able to eradicate the terrorism completely from Jammu and Kashmir. I would also like to thank the public for its support, which proves that people want terrorism to be eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
