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In the aftermath of the shocking terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran area, where several civilians were tragically killed, the Opposition has raised serious questions over the absence of security deployment in the region. Responding to these concerns, the Central Government has now clarified why there was no security presence at the time of the incident.
According to the official statement, the Baisaran region is customarily secured ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin in June 2025. It is during this pilgrimage season that the route is formally opened and security forces are deployed to safeguard pilgrims on their way to the holy Amarnath cave shrine. Until then, the area is not under regular security surveillance.
The government further stated that local tour operators had allegedly begun bringing tourists to Baisaran from as early as April 20, well before any security mobilization was scheduled. Since the pilgrimage season hadn’t commenced and there was no official intimation to the local administration about these early visits, no deployment of security forces was arranged in the region.
This clarification came during a high-level meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, a day after India announced strong retaliatory steps against Pakistan following the terror strike.
The Centre emphasized that had there been official communication regarding the commencement of tourism activities in Baisaran, necessary security arrangements would have been made.
Key Takeaways:
- Baisaran is usually secured ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, not before.
- Local tour operators started unofficial tourism from April 20.
- The local administration wasn’t informed, leading to no troop deployment.
- The government has promised increased vigilance and stricter coordination moving forward.
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