Home Minister Amit Shah to chair high-stakes J&K security review ahead of Amarnath Yatra

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on June 8, as the government steps up preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra scheduled to begin on July 3.

The meeting comes at a critical time when central and Union Territory authorities are finalising arrangements to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

Top-level participation in security review

The review meeting is expected to be attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha along with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and senior officials from central intelligence agencies and central armed police forces. The presence of top administrative and security officials highlights the significance of the annual assessment ahead of the pilgrimage season.

A major part of the discussion will focus on security arrangements along the two traditional pilgrimage routes — Pahalgam and Baltal. These routes are considered sensitive due to terrain challenges and past security concerns. Officials are expected to review troop deployment, surveillance mechanisms, and convoy protection measures to ensure uninterrupted movement of pilgrims.

Counter-terror measures and coordination

The meeting will also assess broader counter-terrorism strategies in Jammu and Kashmir, including measures to prevent infiltration along the Line of Control. Coordination between central forces and local police will be reviewed to ensure rapid response capabilities and effective intelligence sharing during the yatra period.

Amarnath Yatra schedule and preparations

The 57-day Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to run from July 3 to August 28. The first major religious ritual, the Pratham Puja, is set to take place on June 29. Registration for pilgrims began on April 15 through the official Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board portal and designated bank branches across the country.

Authorities have confirmed that pilgrims aged between 13 and 70 years are eligible to participate, subject to mandatory health certification. With expectations of a higher turnout this year, officials are focusing on strengthening infrastructure, medical support, and emergency response systems along the route.

This will be the second major security review on Jammu and Kashmir chaired by Amit Shah this year. An earlier meeting in April focused on anti-terror operations and infiltration challenges in the Union Territory. The upcoming review is expected to finalise last-minute security arrangements and ensure inter-agency coordination ahead of the pilgrimage season.