DGP Reviews Security at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Orders Stronger Vigil in Katra

Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the security and law and order situation at the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and its base camp town of Katra, issuing a series of directives aimed at strengthening the security grid in the region.

The meeting was attended by senior police officials, including IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti , DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Shiv Kumar Sharma , SSP Reasi Mukund Tibrewal , Additional SP Katra Kameshwar Puri , along with SDPO and SHO Katra, among others.

During the review, the DGP conducted a comprehensive assessment of existing security arrangements , particularly in view of the steady influx of pilgrims to the shrine, one of the most significant religious destinations in the country. Officials discussed surveillance measures, deployment patterns, emergency response systems, and coordination among various security agencies to ensure a safe and seamless pilgrimage experience .

Emphasising the shrine’s national importance and high footfall , Prabhat directed officers to remain vigilant and adopt proactive security measures , including intensified patrolling, enhanced intelligence gathering, and strict monitoring of sensitive zones along the pilgrimage route. He also stressed the need for crowd management strategies and the use of technology to bolster real-time monitoring.

The DGP further outlined a roadmap for the ongoing anti-drug campaign, ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’ , launched under the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha . He instructed officers to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards drug-related crimes, calling for the prompt registration of FIRs, attachment of properties acquired through narcotics trafficking, and the use of preventive detention laws against repeat offenders.

Officials said the dual focus on tightened security at the shrine and an aggressive crackdown on narcotics is aimed at maintaining public safety, social stability, and the sanctity of the pilgrimage .

The review meeting comes amid continued efforts by the administration to reinforce security infrastructure and ensure that devotees visiting the shrine can undertake the pilgrimage in a secure and well-regulated environment .