Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 19 : The Army has new CCTV camera to monitor any anti-national activity in the wake of the Baba Budha Amarnath Yatra that will get underway in Poonch sector from July 28.
The CCTV cameras have been set up along a 15-kilometre stretch leading to the shrine in Mandi, Poonch. These devotees for the yatra will come from different parts of India under the banner of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
A residents named Rashid expressed gratitude to the Indian Army and mentioned that these cameras were necessary, "I would like to thank the Indian Army for installing these cameras, and now everything about the yatra can be tracked."
Adding further, Rashid said, "Now the yatra will be successful and we will be able to keep a track of people and their wrongdoings. Lastly, I would like to thank the security for taking this initiative."
Abdul, another resident from Mandi, said, "We want this year's yatra to be better than before. This is also a symbol of brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims. I am extremely happy about the CCTV camera installation. Now, yatra will be safe and secure, and no wrong person can enter. If a person tried to run or hide somewhere, they would easily be caught because of these cameras."
Swami Budha Amarnath Ji mandir is situated between the main belt of Pir Panchal Range at Rajpura Mandi, which is 25 km to the northeast of Poonch city. This sacred place is located on the confluence of two gushing streams, namely Nallah Gagri and Pulsta Nadi.
There are four doors in the Mandir, and there is a natural Shivlinga inside the Mandir. Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country visit Baba Budha Amarnath Ji temple during the annual yatra before Raksha Bandhan. A big Annual festival known as Budha Amarnath Ji Mela is held at the temple.
Meanwhile, the 16th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, consisting of 7908 pilgrims, departed from Jammu on July 18 amid tight security. Due to heavy rainfall in the region, the yatra had been suspended temporarily.
But the pilgrimage was permitted to continue once the conditions improved. Pilgrims have been visiting the Shrine from all parts of the country and abroad since the beginning of the Yatra and have expressed great enthusiasm in undertaking this journey of faith, apart from appreciating the services and efficient management in the conduct of the Yatra.
Since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage on July 3, as many as 2.51 lakh pilgrims have already performed darshan at the holy Amarnath cave shrine in the first fifteen days, the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) informed.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed optimism about a record turnout for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, noting the concerns about turnout following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which had shaken the nation.