Heavy militarisation of Amarnath Yatra raises fears of weaponising Hindu religious event
Srinagar: In a major show of force ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, personnel of the Indian army, police and paramilitary forces conducted a comprehensive mock drill at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the joint exercise involving Indian army, National Security Guard (NSG), Special Operations Group, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted “area-clearing operations” and simulated threat responses, raising concerns among locals that the massive military build-up is being used to weaponise a Hindu religious pilgrimage in the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.
According to sources, the yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28, 2026.
Thousands of yatris are expected to visit the cave shrine in South Kashmir.
Critics view the heavy deployment of elite commando forces and paramilitary units as an attempt to assert dominance and turn the Yatra into a symbol of majoritarian assertion, often at the cost of normal life and heightened tensions in the Valley.
Authorities claim the measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of pilgrims, but residents fear such drills and restrictions further militarise the territory under the guise of the Hindu religious event
