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JAMMU, INDIA, July 14, 2002: 15,000 soldiers and 500 commandos will be deployed to protect pilgrims when they make their annual pilgrimage this month to the revered temple cave of Amarnath in Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. Security forces will guard the 320-km pilgrimage route from the start of the month-long religious event, when pilgrims make their way from Jammu to the hilltop temple in eastern Kashmir. Usually, it takes three days for a group of pilgrims to complete the journey as it involves two overnight stops at camps. Pilgrims walk the last 35 km to the cave. “Indian troops have taken positions on sensitive areas along the mountains so that Islamic militants can do no mischief,” defense officials said. Dilbagh Singh, deputy inspector general of police in the Jammu region, said all the batches of pilgrims will be provided police escorts from Jammu. Sniffer dogs will also be used to detect any explosives that may have been planted by the militants. Two weeks ago, soldiers checking the mountain route were injured when explosive devices planted on the route by militants went off, police said. “Even though this year no Islamic militant outfit has banned the Hindu pilgrimage these tight security measures have been taken in the light of previous militants attack on the pilgrimage,” Singh said. In 2001, militants opened fire on a camp of pilgrims in Sheshnag, 23 km from the temple cave, killing 10 people, including police as well as the visitors.

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