A man was booked for allegedly operating as a pony porter on the Mata Vaishnodevi track in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Police found that he had no authorisation to work there. Police said the person was identified as Mohd Rafiq, a resident of Danga Kote village in the district. A case was registered against him. Police detected him during routine patrolling near the Ban Ganga Bridge close to Geeta Mandir.
The official said at around 9 pm, patrolling personnel intercepted Rafiq and asked him to produce a valid authorisation.
He failed to produce a valid service card or license required for porters operating on the holy track.
Violation Of The Orders Issued by SDM
During questioning, he admitted that he had no official credentials and was working without authorisation, which is a violation of the orders issued by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) to regulate service providers on the pilgrimage route, the official said.
An FIR has been registered at the Katra police station, and an investigation has been initiated, the official added.
Security personnel deployed at every tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir have been kept on high alert since the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were attacked, prompting a conflict between two nuclear-powered nations - India and Pakistan. After the terror attack, Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor and air-struck Pakistan and PoK, killing around 100 terrorists by targeting nine locations in the neighbouring country.
(With PTI inputs)