New Delhi: Seven years ago, in June 2017, the then Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned that India must be ready to fight a war on two and a half fronts, including internal threats. His prediction seems to be coming true as the Indian government now faces unprecedented security challenges both externally and internally. The government has had to deploy agencies like the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for the security of Kanwariyas, highlighting the growing threat of terrorism within the country.
The Uttar Pradesh government has handed over the security of Kanwariyas to the UP ATS following security inputs. This deployment was made on the Muzaffarnagar route, with ATS commandos being briefed by SSP Abhishek Singh to remain on high alert. On Saturday, July 27, 2024, the ATS team from Lucknow stationed at Shiv Chowk in Muzaffarnagar, where they were instructed on the Kanwar Yatra route and its security requirements. The district sees a significant influx of Shiva devotees, making the 240-kilometer route highly critical. Over two thousand CCTV cameras and police deployments every two kilometers ensure a tight security net.
In addition to these measures, there are increasing threats from Khalistani terrorists targeting the Amarnath Yatra. Intelligence agencies have intercepted messages suggesting that ISI is planning attacks using Punjab's gangster network, radical groups, and terrorist organizations. This year, the threat level has escalated, prompting enhanced security measures for the Amarnath Yatra. Reports indicate that ISI is leveraging local criminal elements to create chaos and fear. Intelligence suggests that Babbar Khalsa International, supported by ISI, is targeting BJP leaders and prominent Hindu personalities in Punjab and Delhi, posing a multi-dimensional threat to the region's pilgrims and leaders.
General Bipin Rawat's foresight in 2017 about the dual threats from China and Pakistan, as well as internal threats, is proving accurate. The deployment of agencies like ATS for religious pilgrimages within the country underscores the seriousness of these threats. Western Uttar Pradesh has seen several terror modules busted, with radical terrorists and ISIS operatives arrested from various districts. ISI-backed terrorists have also been arrested for espionage and planning attacks.
With the alert for potential terrorist attacks on the Kanwar Yatra and Khalistani threats to the Amarnath Yatra, the UP ATS and other security agencies are on high alert. These developments demonstrate India's preparedness to handle any threat, fulfilling General Rawat's vision of being ready for a war on multiple fronts.
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