“No Security lapse at all,” says Jammu & Kashmir police on Congress-led Bharat Jodo Yatra

Ahead of the Congress’s allegations on the security lapse, the Jammu and Kashmir police said that it was not consulted before taking any decision on the discontinuation of the Yatra after 1km the organizers.

Jammu & Kashmir police on allegations

While taking Twitter, the Jammu & Kashmir police said, “JKP was not consulted before taking any decision on discontinuation of Yatra after conducting 1 km yatra by organizers. The rest of Yatra continued #peacefully. There was no security lapse at all. We will provide foolproof security.”

#JKP was not consulted before taking any decision on discontinuation of Yatra after conducting 1 km yatra by organizers. Rest of yatra continued #peacefully. There was no security lapse at all. We will provide foolproof security. (3/3)@JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) January 27, 2023

The police official said, “Only authorised persons identified by organisers. The frisked crowd were allowed inside towards the route of Yatra.”

“Organizers and managers of the Yatra did not intimate about large gatherings from Banihal joining the Yatra,” the official added.

Full security arrangements were in place including 15 Coy of CAPFs and 10 Coy of JKP comprising of ROPs and QRTs were deployed. Route domination, lateral deployment and SFs were deployed for high-ridge and other deployments, the J&K police said.

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Congress alleges security lapses

On Friday, the Congress In-charge of J&K and Ladakh, Rajani Patil alleged the security lapses in the Congress led-Bharat Jodo Yatra. He has accused the administration of the Union Territory of failing to manage the crowd.

In a tweet, Rajani Patil wrote, “J&K UT Administration failed to provide security to Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. Security lapses indicate the unfair and unprepared attitude of the UT administration. Office Of LG J-K.”

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal said that there was no security personnel with the Bharat Jodo Yatra for 15 minutes. It was termed a ‘serious lapse’.

Speaking to the media, Venugopal said, “The security has been mishandled by concerned agencies here. For 15 mins, there have been no security officers with the Bharat Jodo Yatra here. This is a serious lapse. Rahul Gandhi and other yatris cannot walk without security.”

The Congress-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is in its final leg in Jammu & Kashmir, resumed on Friday morning from the National Highway-44, Banihal Railway station, in the UT’s Ramban district.