Anantnag: In a bloody attack at night on the Amarnath Yatra, terrorists killed seven pilgrims and injured 14 more, including policemen, when they struck at a bus carrying them to the famous shrine in this district Monday. The bus was attacked in Batengoo around 8.20pm while returning from Baltal to Mir Bazar after darshan, J&K police and CRPF said. The militants also carried out two attacks on security forces in the area.
Police said the militants attacked a mini bus carrying pilgrims from Gujarat. The bus was not officially registered with the Amarnath Shrine Board for the pilgrimage and was without police escort. Inspector General of Police Munir Khan said seven pilgrims were killed, and 14 injured. The injured have been taken to the Army Base Hospital in Srinagar. Khan said the attack was aimed at the security forces and not the yatris.
The last known terror attack on the Amarnath Yatra was the killing of 30 persons, mostly pilgrims, in the base camp in Pahalgam in 2000.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the incident. Union Home and Defence ministry officials met and tooke stock of the situation.
Prime Minister Modi tweeted: “Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone.”
Indo-Asian News Service