Amarnath Yatra underway, police launch night patrol across Jalandhar
In a decisive show of strength and preparedness ahead of the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra, a large-scale night domination exercise led by DIG Naveen Singla, IPS, was conducted across the Jalandhar Range on the night of July 2 and continued into the wee hours of July 3.
The operation was personally supervised by senior police officials, including the respective Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of the three key districts—Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar Rural.
DIG Singla, while speaking to The Tribune here on Thursday, stated that the security drill aimed at tightening surveillance and pre-empting any threats ahead of the high-sensitivity pilgrimage season, saw the deployment of a formidable force comprising 602 personnel. This included 3 SSPs, 23 Gazetted Officers (GOs), 43 Station House Officers (SHOs), 147 Non-Gazetted Officers (NGOs) and 386 Executive Police Officers (EPOs).
The operation was executed with tactical precision, involving 74 checkpoints (nakas) and 79 patrolling units deployed across strategic locations.
He added that senior officers, including SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora, SSP Hoshiarpur Sandip Malik and SSP Jalandhar Rural Harvinder Singh Virk, remained in the field and led the operation from the front. They reviewed ground arrangements, oversaw surprise checks, and directly interacted with field personnel. A key highlight of the exercise was the shifting nakabandi (dynamic checkpoints), which enabled security teams to cover a wider operational area and respond swiftly to evolving situations.
DIG Singla said that over the course of the night, 638 suspected individuals were screened, leading to 123 persons being rounded up for further verification. Additionally, a total of 821 vehicles were checked, resulting in 71 challans being issued for various traffic and regulatory violations. Fifteen vehicles were impounded during the operation.
He further informed that Hoshiarpur Police registered FIR No 162 dated 03.07.2025 under Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at Police Station Model Town. Acting on credible intelligence, police recovered a 7.62 mm revolver along with five live cartridges, marking a notable achievement in the ongoing crackdown on illegal arms.
As part of precautionary measures, teams also conducted random inspections at statues of Dr BR Ambedkar, a move aimed at ensuring communal harmony and preventing any mischief or vandalism targeting symbolic public spaces.
Speaking on the success of the night operation, DIG Singla stated, “The objective was not only to check the preparedness of our teams but also to send a strong message to miscreants. With the Amarnath Yatra approaching, such exercises are crucial in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere across the region.”
The exercise concluded in the early hours of July 3 with a comprehensive review, and all participating units were debriefed. DIG Singla reiterated his commitment to maintaining high alert levels in the coming weeks and assured citizens of a secure environment during the yatra period.
Jalandhar