Katra – November 13, 2026: Against the backdrop of heightened vigilance across Jammu and Kashmir following recent terror incidents in the region, top security brass conducted an exhaustive multi-agency security audit of the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills, followed by an intensive on-foot patrol of the entire twin pilgrimage tracks spanning from the base town of Katra all the way to the sanctum sanctorum at Bhawan.
The high-level security conclave held at Katra was co-chaired by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Udhampur-Reasi Range) Swarn Singh Kotwal and Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi) Mukund Tibrewal. The joint deliberations brought together senior field commanders from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indian Army counter-terror units, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) administration.
Following the operational meeting, DIG Kotwal and SSP Tibrewal led contingents of tactical personnel on an extensive physical foot march, inspecting both the traditional route through Adhkuwari and the newer battery car track. The senior officers personally evaluated sensory surveillance coverage, specialized baggage scanners, automated RFID access gantries, and armed static picket placements designed to eliminate potential blind spots across the steep mountain gradient.
The rigorous inspection comes during a period of massive pilgrim influx, with official Shrine Board statistics confirming that over 83.20 lakh devotees have visited the cave shrine in the first ten months of 2026 alone—comfortably surpassing the 69.78 lakh footfall recorded throughout the entirety of 2025.
“Given the heavy year-round devotee traffic and the evolving security requirements across the region, multi-layered anti-sabotage checks, quick-reaction team (QRT) readiness, and joint communication links between paramilitary forces and the civil police must remain operational at peak readiness,” DIG Kotwal directed, emphasizing non-intrusive yet foolproof passenger profiling.
Published by True Roots Media