Reasi, 12 January 2026:* In a continued drive to ensure strict compliance with regulatory norms and to maintain safety and discipline on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Track, District Police Reasi, during routine patrolling in the jurisdiction of Police Post Ban Ganga, took action against two unauthorised pony operators at different locations.In the first incident, the police party, upon reaching near Bathing Ghat-02, Ban Ganga, stopped a person for checking who was found working as a pony operator. On being questioned, he disclosed his identity as Rahul Sharma S/O Shubh Dutt, R/O Aghar Jitto, Tehsil Katra, District Reasi. During verification, he was asked to produce a valid registered service/pony card, but he admitted that he did not possess any authorised or registered card and stated that he presumed he would not be checked.In the second incident, during patrolling near Bathing Ghat-01, Ban Ganga, another person was intercepted who was also found working as a pony operator without authorisation. He disclosed his identity as Vikram Singh S/O Ishru R/O Kothroo Surjan Dhar, Tehsil Bhomag, District Reasi. On verification, he too failed to produce any valid registered service/pony card and admitted that he was operating without authorisation.By operating as pony operators on the SMVD Track without proper registration, both individuals violated the notification issued by the SDM, Katra, which makes registration mandatory for all service providers.Accordingly, FIR No. 18/2026 and FIR No. 17/2026 both under Section 223(a) BNS, have been registered at Police Station Katra, and further investigation is underway.The entire operation was carried out by 𝗜/𝗖 𝗣𝗣 𝗕𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝗦𝗜 𝗥𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗛𝗢 𝗣/𝗦 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽. 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗼, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗗𝗣𝗢 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺 𝗗𝘂𝗯𝗲𝘆, 𝗝𝗞𝗣𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗣 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝗵. 𝗩𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻, 𝗝𝗞𝗣𝗦.𝗦𝗦𝗣 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗦𝗵. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘃𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵, 𝗝𝗞𝗣𝗦 reiterated commitment to ensuring a safe, regulated and orderly environment for pilgrims and warned that strict action will continue against anyone found violating the prescribed rules and guidelines.
