File photo
AMN
At least seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were killed and 12 injured when terrorists opened fire on their bus in Anantnag districtof Jammu and Kashmir’s Monday evening. The terrorists also fired at a police party in the area.
The Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF said that the bus, which was from Gujarat, was reportedly not part of the main yatra convoy and was not registered with the shrine board,. The main yatra convoy is escorted by the CRPF which has now rushed troops to the spot.
Terrorists launched the attack on the bus at 8:20 pm in the Bantegoo area of the district, said officials.
The police claimed the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on a highway after 7 pm.
– 7 pilgrims injured as terrorists opened fire on their bus
– 12 pilgrims injured
– Bus was reportedly not part of main Amarnath yatra convoy
– Terrorists also fired at a police party in Anantnag
PM condemns killing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to say he has spoken to Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured all possible assistance.
“Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone… India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate,” the PM said in a series of tweets.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh too spoke to Ms Mufti and Mr Vohra and assured full assistance to help the injured.
Ms Mufti condemned the attack in a statement, saying: “This is an assault on our values and traditions which we hold dear. We will leave no stone unturned to root out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”
“An assault on composite culture of Kashmir and indeed on India’s traditionally resilient civilisation. Are apologists listening?” tweeted Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
Following the attack, security has also been stepped up at Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur. Internet services have also been suspended in the Kashmir Valley.
The annual yatra to the holy shrine of Amarnath began from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal amidst tight security arrangements on June 29. Over 6,000 pilgrims were allowed to move towards the shrine from north Kashmir’s Baltal base camp while 5,000 pilgrims proceeded from the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route.
Around 1.2 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves this year.
Among the security arrangements for the 45-day pilgrimage are a satellite tracking system, drones, mobile bunker vehicles and road opening parties (ROPs) along the entire route from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltal.