This year the Amarnath Yatra is expected to begin on July 2. (File Photo)
As the annual Amarnath Yatra draws closer, a tight security cover is being raised in Jammu and Kashmir when thousands of pilgrims will descend on the valley.
With intelligence inputs suggesting that terrorists might target the two-month-long Hindu pilgrimage, additional police forces have been deployed and high tech surveillance equipment is used to ensure it goes incident free.
This year the Yatra is expected to begin on July 2 and authorities have decided to allow 7,500 pilgrims to visit each day.
The route taken by pilgrims is through South Kashmir which has remained the hub of terrorism. Just last week, two terrorists were caught on camera carrying weapons in the Anantnag district after they killed two policemen.
Inputs about terrorists' threat to pilgrimage comes after recent attempts of infiltration and encounters in Kashmir. An additional 65 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF are being deployed for the Amarnath Yatra.
"Yes there are inputs that militants would attack the Amarnath Yatra. As you are aware, BSF is guarding the Amarnath Yatra, we are ready as always," said KK Sharma, Director General of the Border Security Force.
Security is tight along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Police are combing sensitive areas for suspected terrorists and are also focusing their attention on the vast saffron fields in south Kashmir.