Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed and 12 others injured in a terror attack at Botengoo in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway late on Monday evening. Despite heightened security measures following spike in violence in the Valley, the terrorists targeted a police party and a bus carrying pilgrims resulting in heavy casualties. The pilgrims were on way to Jammu after paying obeisance at the holy Amarnath cave situated in the mountainous region of south Kashmir.
Sources said the bus with registration number GJ09-29976, carrying pilgrims all from Gujarat, was returning from Baltal and was not part of the official Amarnath Yatra. The bus was not registered with Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages and regulates the sensitive annual pilgrimage. In the backdrop of security situation in south Kashmir, the Amarnath Yatris were advised against travelling after 7 pm. However, in an apparent security lapses, the fateful bus had managed to bypass the procedure and was travelling at 8.20 pm when it came under the terror attack.
The injured were rushed to Anantnag district hospital from where some of the critically wounded were shifted to Srinagar for treatment. This is the major terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in south Kashmir where terrorist activities have seen surge since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani last year, which was followed by five-month long uprising.
“Today evening terrorists initially attacked a police bullet-proof bunker at Botengoo. The fire was retaliated. There was no report of injuries. Thereafter the terrorists fired on a police post near Khanabal. The fire was retaliated. A tourist bus was hit by bullets in which about 18 pilgrims were injured. Among them, seven died while rest are being treated. The bus was on way to Jammu from Baltal and was not part of the convoy,” a police statement said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the “dastardly terror attack” on Amarnath pilgrims. “Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone,” Modi tweeted. “My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the attack in J&K. My prayers with the injured,” he added.
“India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate,” Modi said in another tweet.
He said he spoke to Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured all possible assistance.
Mehbooba also expressed deep shock and anguish over the killing of yatris. She said the yatris were esteemed guests of Kashmir and perpetrators of crime have dealt a death blow to the ethos and culture of the State.
Mehbooba said time has come for every right thinking Kashmiri to rise against this macabre menace before it devours everybody around. “It is a gruesome attack not only on unsuspecting guests but a brazen attack on Kashmir and Kashmiriyat and all of us shall have to rise against this scourge of violence, sooner the better,” she said.
An official spokesman said the Chief Minister has directed the State administration to provide all possible security to the yatris and also give quality treatment to the injured.
Former Chief Minister and Opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. “Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families & prayers for the injured,” Omar tweeted.
Three separatist leaders — Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik — also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the killing of Amarnath pilgrims and strongly condemned it.
The Joint Resistance leadership (JRl) said that this incident goes against the very grain of Kashmiri ethos. “The annual Amarnath Yarta has been going on peacefully for centuries and is part of our yearly rhythm and will remain so. Our heart goes out to the families of the bereaved and we express our heartfelt condolences to them,” the leaders said in a statement.
“The attack on Amarnath Yatris is a dark patch on the history of Kashmir,” Naeem Akhtar, senior Minister in Mehbooba Mufti’s Cabinet said.
Soon after the attack, the Internet services in Kashmir were blocked on cell phones and broadband lines. The security was enhanced along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Jammu sector where Panther’s Party has called for shutdown on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Amarnath Yatra was suspended from Jammu due to law and order situation in Kashmir Valley where life was affected due to curfew and shutdown in the wake of first death anniversary of Burhan Wani. The normal life had resumed after two days.
This year, 30,000 additional troops have been deployed to ensure smooth and secure conduct of annual pilgrimage. An SASB spokesman on Monday said that 1,46, 692 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine so far. The yatra began on June 28 for 40 days and would culminate on shrvan purnima later in August beginning.