Jammu,
In a move to tighten the security apparatus around one of India’s most visited religious sites, the Director General of Police (DGP) for Jammu & Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, led a high-level security and crime review meeting today in the holy town of Katra.
The session, which assessed the current safety landscape of Katra Town and the Bhawan area, brought together top brass including IGP Jammu Sh Bhim Sen Tuti, DIG UR Range Sh Shiv Kumar Sharma, and SSP Reasi Sh Mukund Tibrewal.
Key Priorities: Pilgrims and Public Safety
The DGP’s visit centered on two critical pillars: the protection of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and a zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics.
1. Strengthening the Security Grid
Recognizing Katra’s status as a high-profile pilgrimage destination, the DGP issued specific directives to:
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Enhance surveillance and physical security in the Katra Town and Bhawan areas.
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Fortify the safety protocols for millions of pilgrims visiting the holy shrine annually.
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Improve coordination between local police, SDPO, and SHO levels for real-time threat mitigation.
2. War on Drugs: ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’
Following the mandate of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of J&K, the DGP laid out a “stringent roadmap” to dismantle drug networks:
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Property Attachment: Immediate seizure of assets acquired through the illegal narcotics trade.
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Legal Action: Ensuring prompt FIR registrations and utilizing preventive detention laws for repeat offenders.
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Zero Tolerance: A proactive stance to ensure a drug-free environment in the Reasi district.
Modernizing Justice: New Criminal Laws (NCL)
A significant portion of the review was dedicated to the transition toward the New Criminal Laws (NCL). The DGP emphasized that law enforcement must not only be firm but also efficient.
“The DGP instructed officers to ensure strict adherence to timelines and improve the overall efficiency of investigations, ensuring cases are disposed of expeditiously under the provisions of the NCL.”
Administrative Presence
The meeting saw participation from key operational leaders, including:
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Sh Kameshwar Puri, Addl SP Katra
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SDPO Katra
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SHO Katra
This review marks a proactive step by the J&K Police to ensure that the security infrastructure evolves alongside the increasing footfall of devotees, maintaining Katra as a safe haven for spiritual seekers.
