Srinagar: Police on Saturday said they detained an alleged Over Ground Worker (OGW) of militants at the Nunwan base camp of the Amarnath Yatra in Anantnag after a Facial Recognition System (FRS) issued an alert at an X‑ray checkpoint.
“The Facial Recognition System (FRS) deployed by police generated a timely alert at the X-Ray Point, Nunwan Base Camp in Anantnag,” a police spokesman said.
The FRS, installed as part of security arrangements along the south Kashmir yatra route, flagged the suspect at the screening point, the spokesman said. Responding to the alert, officers intercepted and took the person into custody, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Police identified the detainee as Mohammad Iqbal Wani, son of Ali Mohammad Wani of Bandipora in north Kashmir.
The police spokesman said that during verification, the individual was confirmed to be an Overground Worker (OGW) of militants.
“The individual has been detained for further legal proceedings and investigation,” he said.
Officials described the interception as evidence of how advanced surveillance tools have been woven into Anantnag Police’s multi‑layered security network to safeguard the pilgrimage.
Police added that the FRS enhances real‑time monitoring, tightens access control and enables rapid action against potential threats.
More than two lakh devotees have visited the Amarnath cave shrine since the 57‑day yatra began on July 3. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
This marks the second detention of persons alleged to be OGWs in south Kashmir in a week following FRS alerts. On July 8, police said three suspected OGWs were arrested after the system indicated their movement in the Sarbal area of Anantnag district.
