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India Today
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Security measures enhanced in valley ahead of Amarnath Yatra
Indian security forces have intensified their efforts to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the upcoming Amarnath Yatra following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. With anti-terror operations underway in Jammu and Kashmir, preparations for the annual pilgrimage are in full Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9, will see heightened security measures along the entire route. The Indian Army, in coordination with other security agencies, is taking proactive steps to ensure the pilgrimage is smooth and secure. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Prateik Sharma visited the Srinagar-based 15 Corps (Chinar Corps) earlier this week to assess the Army's preparedness and review security arrangements. 'The Army is taking all necessary steps to ensure that the journey is fully safe and smooth,' officials year, approximately 50,000 security personnel will be deployed across the 38-day journey. Forces will be stationed at base camps, on the yatra routes, and in all sensitive areas. Surveillance will be strengthened by the use of drones, helicopters, and round-the-clock CCTV monitoring. Digital mapping will be used to track the movement of pilgrims, and digital ID cards will be issued for all yatris and pony riders to strengthen identity Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Indian Army have jointly audited all routes for security. Additional safety features being implemented include the following:Blocking all approach roads linked to national highways during the yatraEnhanced jammer and escort convoy protectionDeployment of Quick Reaction Teams, bomb disposal units, K9 dog squads, and increased drone surveillanceActive deployment of combined Police Control Room (PCR) vehicles throughout the routeadvertisementThe yatra, which will commence from Pahalgam, has long been a target of terror groups. There have been 36 attacks on the Amarnath Yatra over the past 32 years. The first occurred in 1993, with multiple attacks following through the 1990s. In 2000, the deadliest attack killed 32 and injured 60 at the Pahalgam base camp, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. In subsequent years, grenades were lobbed at camps and vehicles. A lull followed until 2017, when gunmen attacked a pilgrim bus, killing seven and injuring have emphasised that ensuring the safety of pilgrims is their highest priority. 'Security agencies have increased their vigilance for the peaceful and safe conduct of the yatra,' officials said. 'It is the priority of the central and state governments that the devotees can reach the holy cave without any fear and hinderance.'Last year, over five lakh devotees undertook the Amarnath Yatra, a number expected to rise again this year. IN THIS STORY#Amarnath Yatra#Jammu and Kashmir
The Wire
5 days ago
- The Wire
Discrepancies, Data and the Myth of Kashmir's Tourism ‘Boost': An RTI Raises More Questions
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Government Discrepancies, Data and the Myth of Kashmir's Tourism 'Boost': An RTI Raises More Questions Jehangir Ali 32 minutes ago An RTI activist has alleged that data disclosed by the tourism department and the government-run development authorities that are responsible for independently managing tourist destinations in Kashmir are marred by errors. FILE IMAGE. Tourists lined up at a Gondola cable car station, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, at Gulmarg in Baramulla district, Jammu & Kashmir, Thursday, April 24, 2025. Photo: PTI Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Srinagar: A right to information query has found that only 10% of the purported tourist footfall in Jammu and Kashmir since the reading down of Article 370 was for the Kashmir Valley, leading to questions on claims of the restoration of normalcy in the area and queries on the methods in which such numbers are collected. As many as 9.47 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, the Union government had earlier said. In response to the RTI query by Srinagar-based transparency activist M.M. Shuja, the tourism department of Kashmir has stated that 92,80,199 tourists – 1,40,577 of them foreigners – visited the Kashmir Valley in the six years since 2019, the year of the Article 370 move. According to the department's public information officer, the number of tourists who visited the Kashmir valley in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 was 5,65,532, 41,267, 6,65,814, 23,10,309, 22,10,497 and 29,86,780 respectively. However, the Union government's own Economic Survey 2024-25 puts the figures at 6,65,777, 26,73,442, 31,55,835 and 34,98,702 in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively. The Union government thus records over 18 lakh more tourists from 2021 to 2024 than the tourism department of the J&K government, which is under its direct control. In March this year, a report in the Rajya Sabha by a parliamentary standing committee stated that 9.47 crore tourists arrived in Jammu and Kashmir from 2019 to 2024, of whom around 8.5 crore seem to have confined their visit to the Jammu region only. Of these, a significant number appear to have visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. According to official data, more than 4.33 crore devotees visited the shrine in the six years since 2019 – a figure which is likely to also include a good number of locals. The Kashmir valley's low share in Jammu and Kashmir's annual tourist footfall holds significance as the BJP-led Union government has repeatedly attempted to link the numbers with the restoration of normalcy in the Union territory following the reading down of Article 370. Speaking with The Wire, Shuja, the RTI activist, alleged that the data disclosed by the tourism department and the government-run development authorities that are responsible for independently managing tourist destinations in Kashmir are marred by errors. Methods In a query about the methodology used for counting tourists at the Srinagar airport and the national highway – the only all-weather surface link that connects the valley with the rest of the country – the department stated that the final figure was 'recorded manually by the dedicated tourist police headed by Deputy Director Tourism Enforcement'. Shuja said that there are flaws in this strategy, claiming that the total number includes local residents of the valley who may be travelling for reasons such as study, healthcare, business or leisure, as well as the floating population of around four to five lakh migrant workers who travel to Kashmir every year. 'The tourism department passes off the number of daily arrivals at the Srinagar airport as the total number of tourists, without excluding the locals and security personnel who visit Kashmir for reasons other than tourism. When I asked the officials about this, they had no answer,' claimed Shuja. He also said that the method used to count tourists arriving in Kashmir by passenger cabs or buses via the national highway was flawed for the same reason. 'The number of passengers that can fit into buses and cabs crossing the Jawahar Tunnel into Kashmir is presented as the number of tourists. While it may help to present a rosy picture of tourism, the absence of factual data will hinder the long-term growth of the sector', Shuja said. The RTI activist also alleged that these discrepancies appear in data released by the development authorities that oversee some of Kashmir's most popular tourist destinations. Citing the official figures revealed by the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) in Ganderbal district, he said that there are 1,270 rooms in all the private and government establishments and hotels in this central Kashmir health resort, which figures among the valley's top five tourist destinations. More discrepancies Responding to an RTI query by Shuja, the SDA stated that 8,90,874 tourists visited Sonamarg in 2024. However, the authority left the query unanswered about the mechanism it adopted to count tourists. Shuja claimed that if all rooms available in Sonamarg were to be occupied on all days of the year, the total number would come to 4,63,550 tourists in 2024. 'If the number is doubled to two tourists per room, even then the figure of 9,27,100 would suggest that Sonamarg was almost at full capacity throughout the year, which is far from truth, given that the harsh winter and the terrorist attack on the Z-Morh tunnel kept Sonamarg out of bounds for many weeks in 2024,' he said. The tourism department has also stated that the hotels, lodges and other similar facilities in Kashmir can accommodate 77,050 persons, with the capital Srinagar figuring on top with a capacity of 56,022 beds, followed by Anantnag with 11,336 and Baramulla with 4,494. A 2018 report in the International Journal of Advance Research in Science and Engineering said that the relative share of the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir's gross state domestic product (GSDP) fluctuated between 6.99% and 8.04%, making it a key sector which has generated a good number of jobs in the hospitality and transportation sectors in recent years. In his first budget speech on March 7, chief minister Omar Abdullah asserted that his government was planning to increase the contribution of the tourism sector to the Union territory's GSDP from 7% to at least 15% over the course of his tenure. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News 'No Unauthorised Websites, Private Email IDs': J&K Govt Issues Advisory Amid Cyber Attacks What Amit Shah's Amarnath Yatra Security Meeting Says About Who Controls Law and Order in J&K The Grand Tamasha of Jammu and Kashmir Politics Jammu and Kashmir: Family Living Near LoC Loses Breadwinner in Shelling After Operation Sindoor Author of 'Kashmir in Conflict' Says 'India and Pakistan Gain Nothing From Repeated Military Confrontations' Pahalgam and the Collective Punishment of Kashmiris Missing Police in Pahalgam: Who is Responsible for this Biggest Breach of Public Security? 'It's a Huge Tragedy': In Visit to Poonch, Rahul Gandhi Meets Families Bereaved in Pak Artillery Shelling Jammu and Kashmir: Soldier Killed During Encounter With Terrorists in Kishtwar District About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Tour operators: We're working collectively to revive Kashmir as a safe destination
'Kashmir is facing a wave of cancellations, and uncertainty continues to loom over travel plans' It has been a month since the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed over 26 lives. Travel agents, who had been looking forward to a peak summer tourism season, experienced nearly 100% cancellations following the incident and the subsequent military operation by the Indian Armed Forces. Now, with the ceasefire in place and fleeting moments of normalcy, tour operators report that only five to ten per cent of tourists have returned to the valley. Still, there is hope that the situation will improve in the coming months, mostly by winter. 'We saw 70% cancellations after the attack, 100% amid tensions, and only 10% packages have been retained for now' Explaining the on-ground situation, Srinagar-based travel agent Shahji Shakil shares that while some tourist queries are coming in, the numbers are very low. 'Seventy per cent of my bookings were cancelled after the Pahalgam attack, and the rest were cancelled or postponed during the warlike tension between the two countries. Now, a very limited number oftourists are returning – only 5-10% of booked packages have been retained,' he says. 'All foreign tourists have cancelled their bookings' As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, many countries issued travel advisories warning their citizens against visiting border areas, specifically Jammu and Kashmir. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Srinagar-based travel agent Shaqoor Sheikh, who primarily works with international travellers, says, 'All my packages have been cancelled until September. When people spend that much money, they expect to visit key sites, but locations like Betaab Valley and Baisaran are still closed. That, combined with global advisories, has really hit us.' NCR-based agent Akash Rastogi points out that although travel agents are encouraging tourists to return, fear remains. 'Most places are deserted. From a tourism standpoint, this peak summer season is lost. We can only hope things will improve in winter. For now, Srinagar, Sonmarg, and Gulmarg are open, while Pahalgam and the interiors remain closed.' Many agents echo his sentiments. Delhi-based Muzamil Nazir, who also has an office in Srinagar, says, 'Travel companies and partner agencies in Kolkata have joined hands to revive tourism with the 'Chalo Kashmir' initiative. We're waiting to see how tourists respond. If it gains traction, it'll benefit everyone. But for now, we have zero bookings for Kashmir. We're hoping the next season – 2026 – might be better.' Explaining the on-ground situation, Srinagar-based travel agent Shahji Shakil shares that while some tourist queries are coming in, the numbers are very low 'Log wapas aana chahte hain, par dare hue hain' Sopore-based travel agent Asif Hussain adds that while queries are few, tourist interest is still alive. ' Log wapas aana chahte hain, par dare hue hain . Logon ko yeh message jaana chahiye ki tourism ab safe hai Kashmir mein . The few bookings I do have are for ultra-luxury resorts; regular tourists are almost non-existent. This is actually the best time to visit Kashmir – there are fewer crowds, hotel prices are lower, so those who want to come can still do so. However, out of the 180 bookings I had, only seven were retained. Most people wanted refunds,' he shares. He emphasises that regaining trust is essential, 'Our industry has suffered deeply, and recovery will take time. But when the attack happened, we stood by the tourists. I personally spent three days in the hospital with guests who were injured in the attack. We're with you – please trust us.' 'Safety and stability are critical for the revival of tourism' Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators, says, 'Tourism in Kashmir has been severely impacted by the recent India-Pakistan conflict. The region is facing a wave of cancellations, and uncertainty continues to loom over travel plans. It's clear that restoring tourists' confidence will take time. As tour operators and travel agents, we are proactively assessing the situation by organising familiarisation trips for key industry stakeholders. These visits allow firsthand review of the ground conditions and help us work collectively to revive Kashmir's image as a safe and welcoming destination. We urge the government to take immediate and effective action to boost security and foster an environment that reassures travellers. Safety and stability are critical for the revival of tourism in this beautiful region.' Chalo Kashmir campaign kicks off, supported by almost 100 travel companies In response to concerns over tourism following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has launched the 'Let's Visit J&K' or 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, which aims to restore the region's vibrancy and support the revival of tourism. Approximately 100 travel companies in Kolkata have joined the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, viewing it as a robust response to the recent attack. These agencies collectively manage about 4 lakh domestic tourists annually, including 40,000 to Jammu and Kashmir, as per a Times Of India report. The association aims to reach more than one million travellers – including families, groups and individuals – through the direct customer base of its 2,400+ member companies across India. Summer's definitely been impacted—there's no doubt about that. But we believe there's huge potential in winter tourism. Gulmarg, for instance, is already recognised for its ski slopes. Indian travellers, especially dual-income couples aged 23–30, are warming up to off-season travel. They're not bound by school holidays and are making the most of long weekends. July to September can be positioned as off-peak travel windows, especially as accessibility improves - Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder, Pickyourtrail (They are entering the domestic travel space starting with Kashmir, in solidarity with a region whose tourism economy has been deeply impacted.) One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Scroll.in
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Why Kashmir is not holding its breath on Trump offer to mediate
On May 10, following four days of military clashes, United States President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. There was no mention of Kashmir, though the US secretary of state did offer support in 'initiating constructive talks' between the two countries on a 'broad set of issues'. A day later, however, Trump offered his help to the two countries to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute. Trump's announcement did not go down well with New Delhi, since it is India's long-standing position that it is a bilateral matter. Moreover, the Narendra Modi government's position, after it scrapped Jammu and Kashmir's special status and downsized it into a union territory in August 2019, is that there is no Kashmir dispute. The prospect of US intervention was refuted by the Ministry of External Affairs. But Kashmir's response to Trump's offer to mediate has been missing from the debate so far. Neither Kashmir's mainstream politicians nor separatist leaders have made their stand clear on Trump's offer. Political observers said that Trump's offer of intervention has been viewed as a 'positive development' in Kashmir. 'Any attempt, whether at local or international level, to resolve the Kashmir dispute is generally welcomed in Kashmir,' said a political science scholar, who requested anonymity. 'Unfortunately, given the unwritten restrictions on the modes of expression [in Kashmir], the voices of people may not be heard.' The four-day military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours has again established Kashmir as a flashpoint in the subcontinent, the observers said. Since August 2019, when the Narendra Modi government scrapped Article 370 and cracked down on separatism, it had disappeared from international headlines. However, there is scepticism in Kashmir if Trump's announcements will change anything on the ground. Some observers said New Delhi is unlikely to change its muscular and security-centric approach towards the region. 'It actually depends a lot on how far the United States is ready to [put] pressure on New Delhi to start discussing the Kashmir issue with Pakistan,' a Srinagar-based political analyst, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Scroll. 'At the moment, that looks unlikely. The US may be trying to corner Modi for its own economic or trade interests rather than its concern for Kashmir.' On May 15, during a business event in Qatar, US president Donald Trump said that he told tech giant Apple's CEO Tim Cook that he does not want him to make his phones in India. Apple plans to produce around 25% of global iPhones in India in the next few years. Trump and Kashmir As a global superpower, American intervention in convincing the two nuclear-armed neighbours to cease hostilities was expected. It was, however, Trump's mention of the Kashmir dispute that came as a surprise to many. The last time Trump had talked about Kashmir was during a press conference in New Delhi during his visit to India in February, 2020. His recent offer of mediation was the first such statement in his second tenure as the president of the United States. India's response to Trump's offer was countered by the Ministry of External Affairs on May 13. 'As you are aware, we have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally,' Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said during a press briefing. 'That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian Territory by Pakistan.' Centre unlikely to soft-pedal Since August, 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government has completely outlawed separatism in the region. The 'zero tolerance policy against terrorism' has not only dealt a blow to local militancy, it has also translated into an exhaustive crackdown against its support system and activists. Hurriyat, the political face of separatism in Jammu and Kashmir that has engaged with New Delhi in the past over Kashmir, has been reduced to just a name. In such a situation, Trump's mention of Kashmir may have brought international limelight back on the disputed region but it's unlikely to trigger an outreach from the Centre towards Kashmir. 'The decision to permit foreign intervention rests with the Indian government, and it is my belief that they are unlikely to embrace such involvement,' said the Srinagar-based political analyst. Besides, engaging with the Kashmir issue may need a lot of U-turns on the part of the Modi government. 'Modi cannot look weak and start talking to the same people his government jailed for supporting terrorism and fomenting separatism in Kashmir,' said the political analyst. 'Even if Delhi wants to talk to separatists, it has to first release them.' Risk of domestic backlash The domestic backlash in mainland India for engaging on the Kashmir issue will also be weighing heavily on the mind of the Bharatiya Janata Party. 'BJP has won elections on 'integrating' Kashmir with the rest of India after removing Article 370. Talking on Kashmir with Pakistan along with the intervention of a third-party will be a disaster for it electorally,' the Srinagar-based political analyst added. A second scholar of political science in Kashmir, who also requested not to be identified, concurred. 'The current government is unlikely to permit any foreign intervention, whether direct or indirect, concerning Kashmir, primarily due to domestic considerations,' he explained. The main opposition party Congress has already criticised Modi for internationalising the Kashmir issue. 'Kashmir is a bilateral issue and the attempt to internationalise it, I feel, is not proper,' Sachin Pilot, the Congress's general secretary said on May 11. 'In 1994, the Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution to take back PoK. It is time to repeat it.' The Congress has also demanded the Modi government to clearly state that 'it [Kashmir] is a bilateral issue and no country, including America, should have space to intervene.' Modi has, so far, not directly mentioned the United States in his reaction against the third-party intervention. The political leadership in Kashmir has taken a less aggresive view of the emerging political situation post the India-Pakistan ceasefire. 'The Modi government should not be politically penalised for exploring peaceful means,' Mehbooba Mufti, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and president of Peoples Democratic Party, said on May 13. 'This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship not division. The opposition must rise above politics and support genuine efforts for peace and stability. Mufti also appealed to the opposition parties to avoid 'knee-jerk criticism' and 'build a national consensus around a peace process that safeguards national interests.' 'Leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh proved that cross-border engagement is possible even in tense times without compromising security or sovereignty,' she added. Beyond coercive measures The four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan from May 7 to 10 was sparked by the deadly terrorist attack on tourists in south Kashmir's Pahalgam. 'The Pahalgam attack showed that even though separatism and militancy in Kashmir are on the backfoot, a single incident abetted by Pakistan is enough to underline how good things in Kashmir really are,' a local businessman in Srinagar city said. Military experts have long argued that Pakistan can sustain a low-intensity insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, and India needs to counter it both through military as well as political means. During an interview with The Indian Express recently, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (Retd) said there is more to the Pahalgam attack than 'merely looking at the internal security situation.' 'I am quite firm in my belief on the need for greater outreach to the local public, greater outreach to the local political parties,' Hooda said. 'We often say these are parties with soft separatist tendencies, which maybe or may not be true, but the fact is that they command popular support. Therefore, we need to take them on board.' Political analysts say there is a probability that New Delhi might engage with Kashmir but on its own terms. 'There's no question of restoring pre-August 2019 status,' said the political science scholar. 'Yes, there is a certain degree of probability that they will grant statehood to J&K soon.' He also hoped that recent political and military developments 'may compel the Union government to consider strategies beyond coercive measures in its engagement with Pakistan and Kashmiris.'
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Army officer duped of Rs 54 lakh in investment scam amid Op Sindoor
Hyderabad: On May 7, as India launched Operation Sindoor, executing precision strikes on terror camps based in Pakistan, a Srinagar-based Indian Army technical officer from Telangana reported a loss of ₹54 lakh—his life savings—to an investment scam via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). The 38-year-old officer, a native of Khammam, initially received unsolicited WhatsApp messages in Jan 2025, offering high returns on stock market investments. Due to work commitments, he ignored the messages at first but began engaging with the senders in Feb. The scammers added him to a WhatsApp group titled 'BVIP29 B N Rathi Internal Group', operated by individuals identifying themselves as Arun Kumar Mantri and Hersh Tolani. They instructed him to download an app via a link, claiming it was connected to a legitimate Somajiguda-based stock trading firm. "The fraudsters gained my trust by using authentic details of a real company, which I verified online. I even called the actual company's numbers in Hyderabad to confirm," the officer said in his police complaint. Between March 10 and May 5, the officer made multiple transactions ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5 lakh through the app, transferring a total of ₹55.32 lakh to various bank accounts. The fraud was uncovered when one of the scammers demanded an additional ₹3.8 lakh. "When Tolani kept insisting on further investment, I contacted the Somajiguda firm directly. Their staff confirmed they had no connection with any WhatsApp investment groups or app-based stock trading platform. I reported the fraud to the NCRP on May 7," he added. At the time of the complaint, the officer was on personal leave in Khammam, attending to his ailing mother. On May 15, he filed a written complaint with the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau . A case has been registered against unknown persons under sections 61(2) (punishment for criminal conspiracy) and 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and section 66D (cheating by personation using a computer resource) of the Information Technology Act. "We are analysing 32 bank transactions to identify the culprits," a police official said, urging the public to verify investment schemes directly with registered financial institutions and to avoid using unverified apps.
