Security tightened at Vaishno Devi shrine ahead of I-Day

Security has been strengthened at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and across the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Independence Day, with police carrying out anti-sabotage checks, frisking, hotel verification and area domination operations, the SSP said.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a ‘Tiranga Rally’, Tibrewal said that Independence Day is a sensitive national festival and all necessary security measures were being taken to ensure peaceful celebrations.

“Independence Day is always a sensitive national festival for us. Keeping that in mind, we are taking all necessary safety measures, including anti-sabotage checks, frisking, hotel checks, area domination in adjoining hills and activating VDGs,” he said.

He said people were expected to come out of their homes and celebrate the national festival, adding that special attention was being paid to the security of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

“Vaishno Devi is a shrine where people from all corners of the country come to visit. Keeping that in mind, our SOG teams are dominating all areas around Vaishno Devi,” Tibrewal said.

A massive ‘Tiranga Rally’ was also taken out from the Bhawan of Mata Vaishno Devi as part of the nationwide ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

“As part of this initiative, yesterday we organised a rafting rally in the Chenab with the district administration. Today, we also held a bike rally across Reasi city to ensure that the message of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ and our national festival, Independence Day, reaches every household,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Kumar Abhishek said the administration was fully prepared for the Independence Day celebrations.