Four Teachers Suspended, Three Detained on Facial Recognition Alerts During Amarnath Yatra
The Ganderbal administration on Wednesday suspended four government teachers for alleged lapses in their duties during the annual Amarnath Yatra. The suspension was ordered following a communication from the Nodal Officer of Transit Camp Manigam, according to the Chief Education Officer of Ganderbal.
The teachers were involved in the on-spot registration of pilgrims on the Baltal route of the yatra. Officials said the administration is closely monitoring the registration process to ensure compliance with due procedures. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) had earlier warned officials against registering pilgrims without following proper protocols. However, officials declined to provide specific details about the nature of the lapses.
The suspension drew criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Party leader Iltija Mufti questioned why teachers were assigned registration duties. “What do teachers know about tourism registration? Why would they be assigned to something they have no knowledge or experience of? Are they scapegoats?” she asked. She also raised concerns about the focus on high pilgrim numbers, suggesting it could affect logistics and the preservation of the cave shrine.
In a separate development, Anantnag Police detained three individuals after a Facial Recognition System (FRS) flagged them as suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs). The detentions took place at Sarbal on the Pahalgam route of the yatra. Police described the incident as a demonstration of the effectiveness of advanced surveillance technology deployed for the yatra.
According to officials, the FRS alerted police personnel, who then intercepted and verified the identities of the three individuals. Verification identified them as OGWs, a term used by authorities for individuals alleged to provide support to militant groups. The three were taken into custody for further legal proceedings, police said.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have integrated data of local youths allegedly linked to militant activities or past protests into the FRS database. Police stated they remain committed to using modern surveillance systems to ensure the safety of pilgrims and maintain peace in the district.
The Amarnath Yatra, held annually in the Himalayas, attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Security arrangements are typically robust, with authorities employing various technologies to prevent threats.
