Security agencies have identified lashkar-e-Tayyeba terrorist Abu Ismail from Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir as the mastermind behind the attack on the bus ferrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims on Monday night. Four other terrorists are also believed to be part of the terror gang led by Ismail. They Pakistani terrorists are believed to have received support from local outfits, said a senior official after a high-level security and Intelligence briefing chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday morning.
The Home Minister took stock of the prevailing situation in Kashmir Valley, particularly the two routes to the shrine, located in the Himalayas at an altitude of 12,756 feet during the hour-long meeting, official sources said.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, top officials of the Home Ministry, Intelligence agencies, and Central
paramilitary forces attended the meeting.
Issues like security of Amarnath pilgrims and how to prevent such possible attacks in the future were discussed threadbare. Sources said the Home Minister directed the officials to ensure enhanced security for the pilgrims. The pilgrimage started on June 29 and will conclude on August 7.
Immediately after the meeting, the NSA briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the deliberations as well as the steps taken for the security of the Amarnath pilgrims, sources said. A high-level central team led by Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir is also visiting Jammu &
Kashmir to assess the security of the pilgrimage.
Director General of the CRPF, RR Bhatnagar, has already reached Srinagar to review the deployment of Central forces on the pilgrimage routes.
later, talking to the media, Rajnath Singh said he saluted the people of J&K who had condemned the attack on Amarnath pilgrims and kept the spirit of Kashmiriyat alive.
“I am pained at the loss of lives of Amarnath pilgrims. But I salute the people of Kashmir as all sections of society have condemned the attack. It shows the spirit of Kashmiriyat is very much alive,” he said.
As many as 21,000 paramilitary personnel in addition to State police forces have been deployed for security of the pilgrimage routes. The number of paramilitary personnel deployed this year is 9,500 more than last year.
However, the pilgrims were travelling in a bus which was not part of the convoy of vehicles taking the Amarnath pilgrims with adequate security. The bus was attacked around 8.20 pm in Anantnag district when it was on its way to Jammu from Srinagar. The police said the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on the highway after 7 pm as the security cover is withdrawn after that.
Meanwhile, the Centre announced compensation of Rs 7 lakh for the next of kin of the Amarnath pilgrims killed in the Anantnag terror attack and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. A Home Ministry spokesperson said the compensation will be given to the victims of terror attack as early as possible.