Security tightened in Katra ahead of Navratra festival, DIG reviews arrangements
Jammu, March 17, KNT: Security arrangements in Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, were reviewed on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Navratra festival, with authorities planning enhanced surveillance and multi-layer deployment to ensure a smooth and secure yatra, officials said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Sarah Rizvi chaired a joint review meeting to assess preparedness and coordinate security measures among multiple agencies involved in managing the pilgrimage.
The review assumes significance as Navratra attracts a large influx of pilgrims to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, requiring heightened vigilance and crowd management.
Officials said senior officers from the police, CRPF, Army, Intelligence Bureau, CID, Railways, Traffic Police and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board attended the meeting.
During the session, SSP Reasi presented a detailed security grid plan covering Katra town, the yatra route and the shrine area.
Officials said the focus was on ensuring seamless movement of pilgrims while maintaining strict security checks to prevent any untoward incident.
The DIG directed the establishment of random checkpoints across key locations to intensify vehicle checking and monitoring of movement in and around Katra.
Round-the-clock joint long-range patrolling by police and CRPF was also planned to strengthen area domination and surveillance, officials said.
Additional deployment on elevated points and high ridges has been proposed to monitor vulnerable stretches along the pilgrimage route.
Sarah Rizvi is a 2008-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Gujarat cadre, currently serving on inter-cadre deputation in Jammu and Kashmir. She is presently posted as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range. Born and brought up in Mumbai, she completed her graduation in commerce from MMK College before clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Over her career, she has held key policing assignments in Gujarat and later served as DIG (Administration) at Police Headquarters J&K. Known for her operational experience and administrative roles, she has been involved in law and order management, security planning and coordination among multiple agencies in sensitive regions.
Authorities also emphasised increased foot patrolling in crowded areas to maintain visibility and quick response capability.
Village Defence Guards are being activated as part of local-level vigilance measures, while continuous area domination exercises and long-range patrols will be conducted, officials said.
Special attention was given to crowd management, with officials stressing the need to regulate pilgrim flow and avoid situations that could lead to congestion or stampede-like conditions.
Officials said verification drives would be intensified, including background checks of migrants, construction workers, pony porters and others entering Katra during the festival period.
Regular inspections of hotels, lodges and homestays have also been planned to verify the credentials of visitors and ensure compliance with safety protocols.
Authorities said inter-agency coordination would be key to handling the increased footfall during Navratra.
The meeting concluded with directions to maintain close coordination among all stakeholders to ensure that pilgrims can undertake the yatra in a secure and orderly environment.
Katra serves as the primary base for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, one of the most visited religious sites in India, drawing millions of devotees annually, particularly during Navratra. [KNT]
