Jammu, Jun 26, 2025 : A total of 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed across Jammu division for the security of this year’s Amarnath Yatra — 30 more than previous years, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after flagging off an anti-drug awareness tableau on International Day Against Drug Abuse, Tuti assured tight security arrangements and a safe pilgrimage for all devotees. He urged pilgrims traveling from Jammu to move only in official convoys rather than independently.
“The five districts forming the yatra corridor in Jammu — Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Ramban — are fully secured. Additional CAPF companies have been deployed, including enhanced presence from Lakhanpur (Punjab border) to Jammu,” the IGP said.
He added that Road Opening Patrols have been introduced in vulnerable stretches, including areas previously with minimal deployment, to ensure smooth and secure passage.
The 38-day yatra to the holy Amarnath cave shrine, situated at 3,880 meters in the south Kashmir Himalayas, will begin on July 3 via the twin routes — the 48-km traditional Pahalgam track in Anantnag and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. The first batch of pilgrims is scheduled to depart from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2.
Reiterating the importance of coordinated travel, Tuti said, “Daily convoys for Pahalgam and Baltal leave under high security. Pilgrims should avoid independent travel.”
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat the drug menace in the region, calling narcotics a dual threat: “J&K is a border region, and drugs not only ruin lives but are also a key source of terror funding. Our fight is against both.”
