The Indian army and police establishment has transformed Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, particularly South Kashmir, into a military garrison ahead of the annual Hindu Amarnath yatra.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the heavy deployment of Indian forces, including army and paramilitary personnel, has caused significant inconvenience to locals. Indian troops are patrolling and checking roads, and army pickets have been set up in various areas, including Islamabad, Kulgam, Ganderbal, and Srinagar, where vehicles are being frisked and travelers are being subjected to identification checks.
The Indian government has approved the deployment of additional paramilitary companies in the name of yatra protection, and scores of bullet-proof police vehicles and bunkers have been installed. The Indian army, RR, CRPF, BSF, SOG, and SSB have been equipped with high-tech gadgets.
Observers are watching the situation cautiously, as Hindutva groups like RSS, BJP, VHP, Shiv Sena, and Bajrang Dal are attempting to expand the yatra to promote their ideology and potentially convert Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir into a Hindu territory. These groups have introduced new yatras, such as the Buddha Amarnath, Kauser Nag, and Sindhu Darshan Yatras, to further their agendas.—KMS
