Yatra nearing: Uttarkashi tightens vigil on outsiders, over 700 verified in 10 days

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Uttarkashi

As directed by the police headquarters Uttarakhand, a massive verification campaign is being conducted in Uttarkashi district under “Operation Crackdown”. This campaign, led by superintendent of police, Uttarkashi, Kamlesh Upadhyay, is ensuring 100 per cent verification of individuals from other states residing in the district, police said.

Police further said that during the special verification drive conducted in various police station areas on Tuesday, the documents of 66 persons had been physically verified and the filled-up forms had been forwarded for scrutiny. Police teams conducted special checking drives in hotels, dharamshalas, home-stays, guest houses, hostels, PGs, rented houses, coaching centres, under-construction projects, private institutions, labour colonies, hawkers, stalls, scrap dealers and slum areas. “These are where a large number of people from other states live and so we are giving priority to the verification process here,” a police officer, engaged in the drive, said, adding that the same was continuing on Wednesday, too.

The district police department claimed that over 700 individuals had been verified in the last 10 days. The campaign aims not only to curb criminal activities but also to strengthen the district’s security system, which is a sensitive religious and tourist destination. Uttarkashi district is also crucial for the Char Dham Yatra, so maintaining a well-organised record of outsiders is a priority for the administration, the district police sources said

Along with the verification drive, the people are also being made aware of the imperative of their tenants and workers being verified. Besides, hotel and restaurant owners have been directed to record complete details of tourists, visitors and pilgrims staying there, including ID cards, and to compulsorily fill up Form C for foreign nationals.

The department clarified that any suspicious person or activity should be immediately reported to the Police Control Room, Uttarkashi, on mobile number 9411112976. The identity of the informant will be kept strictly confidential.