Uttarakhand Police tightens security as terror threat looms over Kanwar Yatra

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday issued an advisory for several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, based on inputs from an Intelligence Bureau report ahead of the Kanwar Yatra.

The Uttarakhand Police on Thursday said that the state police is on alert and strict security arrangements have been made for Kanwar Yatra. This time, the police is also deploying drones to keep vigil over the Yatra.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday issued an advisory for several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, based on inputs from an Intelligence Bureau report ahead of the Kanwar Yatra.

DGP Uttarakhand Police Ashok Kumar Told India Today, "This is a general advisory by the Home Ministry to Uttarakhand and other state polices. We have already alerted our police force to stay alert during the Kanwar Yatra period.”

MHA has directed state governments to beef up security for ‘Kanwariyas’, citing the threat from radical elements, sources said.

What are the security arrangements?

Over four crore Kanwar Yatris are expected to visit Uttarakhand this year to collect the sacred water of the Ganges and perform Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva. In view of the largest religious event, the administration has claimed to make elaborate security arrangements.

The mela area is divided into 12 super zones, 32 zones and 120 sectors. Uttarakhand Police claims ten thousand police personnel, five companies of central paramilitary forces, an anti-terrorism squad including a bomb squad and Jal police are being deployed in the mela area.