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Annual Amarnath Pilgrimage Commences Amid Security Concerns
Pahalgam – Hindu devotees kicked off a significant month-long pilgrimage in the Indian-occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Many began their journey from areas near where a tragic attack occurred in April, resulting in the deaths of 26 tourists, primarily Hindus.
- Last year, approximately half a million pilgrims took part in the Amarnath pilgrimage, which leads to a revered ice formation situated in a cave within the majestic Himalayan hills near Pahalgam.
- Security measures have been intensified, with 45,000 troops deployed and high-tech surveillance tools implemented along the challenging trek to the holy site dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Security Measures Heightened
Following the attack on April 22, which New Delhi claims was orchestrated by gunmen supported by Pakistan—a claim Islamabad disputes—diplomatic tensions between the two nations have escalated. This incident led to a four-day conflict, marking the gravest standoff between the nuclear-armed countries since 1999.
Despite recent unrest, some pilgrims, like Muneshwar Das Shashtri from Uttar Pradesh, expressed a sense of security. “I have no fear,” he told AFP.
Authorities have fortified Pahalgam, transforming the base camp into a heavily secured area protected by barbed wire. Soldiers monitor the area from newly stationed armored vehicles and sandbagged positions, enhanced by facial recognition technology.
Manoj Sinha, the Indian-appointed administrator for the region, stated, “We’ve installed high-quality surveillance cameras at all major points along the pilgrimage route.” All participants must register and travel in canopied convoys protected by security personnel until they begin walking.
Camouflaged bunkers have been established in the wooded areas along the path, where makeshift kitchens offer free meals to the pilgrims. Electronic tracking cards are provided to help ensure the safety of those on the pilgrimage.
Ujwal Yadav, a first-time pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh, declared, “Whatever attacks may have occurred here, I am undeterred. I’ve come to witness the sacred formation.”
Despite claims from officials that “public confidence is returning,” the number of registrations has dropped by 10% this year.
A Growing Tradition
Originally a modest event attended by local devotees, the Amarnath pilgrimage has expanded since an armed insurgency began in 1989. The Indian government has since actively promoted the event, which will continue until August 9.
Although advocates for freedom in the region have stated that the pilgrimage is not a target, they warn that any attempts to use it to assert Hindu dominance could lead to conflict. In 2017, an attack on a pilgrimage bus resulted in the loss of 11 lives.
The individual responsible for the April 22 incident remains at large, despite extensive manhunts by security forces in the region. On June 22, India’s National Investigation Agency reported the arrest of two men in the Pahalgam area accused of providing logistical support to the attackers.
As the pilgrimage unfolds, the combination of faith and heightened security shapes what has become an enduring and complex tradition in this historically charged region.
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