Amid the biannual Darbar Move—the routine transfer of government offices and records from Jammu to Srinagar—the CRPF’s 84 Battalion has stepped up security along National Highway 44. The movement of Secretariat staff from Jammu began on April 30, with offices scheduled to reopen in Srinagar on May 4. The battalion, based in Chanderkote in Ramban district, oversees a 47-kilometre stretch of NH-44, extending from the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel at Nashri to Digdol. Personnel have been deployed in full strength, especially at strategically important and sensitive locations along the highway.

Commandant N Ranbir Singh said that, as every year, the Darbar Move involves the travel of several high-profile individuals, including ministers, MLAs, senior bureaucrats, and officials. To ensure their safe transit, advanced security measures have been put in place. These include bomb disposal squads, sniffer dog units, drones, counter-IED teams, and Quick Action Teams, all strategically positioned across the area. He emphasized that the force is maintaining the highest level of alertness and readiness, with most personnel deployed on the ground to secure the highway and ensure smooth movement.

The commandant also highlighted preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, describing it as a major national event. He stated that ensuring a safe and peaceful pilgrimage is a top priority. Road Opening Patrol teams begin checking and securing the highway early each day, while personnel remain vigilant from designated positions along the route.

The CRPF’s operational area covers a key section of the route used during the pilgrimage, stretching from the Nashri tunnel through Ramban town to Digdol. Patrols typically begin between 7:00 and 7:30 in the morning, depending on movement schedules, and continue throughout the day, with additional deployments made whenever necessary, including during early morning or late-night hours.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.