As the CRPF and J&K police gear up to provide security for the Amarnath Yatra starting on June 28, CRPF DG Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar talks to TOI’s Neeraj Chauhan about the arrangements, challenges for the forces and the threats posed by use of IEDs by terrorists. Excerpts:
How prepared are you for the Amarnath Yatra, which faced a terror attack last year in which seven pilgrims were killed?
Our operations are laid out. We are prepared with the security arrangements including road opening parties, checkpoints, technical surveillance, counter-terror operations etc. Depending on past experiences, strategy has been changed.
Is there a plan to avoid incidents like July 10, 2017 attack on pilgrims' bus?
We are for the first time introducing RFID (radio frequency identification) tags in vehicles used by the pilgrims so that vehicles' movement, timing in reaching destination could be tracked. We will also take information/identity/contact details of drivers so that they can be contacted in case of a route diversio. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and CCTVs will be used along the Yatra route. We are also educating Yatris about do's and don'ts.
What are the biggest challenges for security forces?
The use of IEDs has again surfaced in Jammu and Kashmir after several years and it's a worrying trend. I believe terrorists are being trained across the border to prepare IEDs made of different compositions and plant them in the crowd, security camps or vehicles.
What are you doing to deal with it?
It is difficult to prevent grenade attacks all the time because terrorists throw it from a distance while moving on a bike, or from the crowd. We have sensitised the troops to be extra cautious about moving in the crowd, or not be pushed in a corner during an operation.
How prepared you are in terms of use of technology, weapons etc for security arrangements and counter-terror operations?
We have all the modern equipment. Our teams are now also getting equipment available with special forces - like night vision devices, high-tech rifles, surveillance equipment, bulletproof vehicles and full body armour.
