Amarnath Yatra Called off as Events Unfold

Srinagar: A midday order issued by the state home department on Friday advised Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists to immediately rush back home and that the annual Hindu pilgrimage that was scheduled to end on August 15 had been called off. Officials said following intelligence inputs of a terror attack being planned by the militants, for the safety of the yatris and the tourists, they were being advised to rush back.

The tempo for the departure of the yatris and tourists from the Valley was built by a press conference addressed jointly by the GOC of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General, K.J.S. Dhillon and the Director-General of state police, Dilbag Singh.

The GOC said they had clear proof that Pakistan army was planning to attack the Amarnath Yatris through terrorists in the Valley. The Army displayed a massive landmine bearing the markings of the Pakistan army and an American telescope fitted long range rifle which the media was told had been recovered during searches along the north and south Kashmir routes to the Cave shrine. The state police Chief gave details about the anti-militancy operations. In the meantime, police and paramilitary officers were visiting Baltal and Pahalgam base camps asking yatris to leave the Valley.

The ordeal for the yatris and the tourists in Baltal, Sonamarg and Gulmarg was frustrating. Pack up and leave, the curt message delivered by the local police assisted by the paramilitary CRPF was enough to tell the pilgrims and the tourists that sometime had already happened or was going to happen. Taxis, mini buses and buses racing down from Baltal, Sonamarg and Gulmarg was enough for the scores of makeshift tea-stalls, handicraft kiosks and small restaurants to be bewildered along the yatra route.

Dozens of pilgrims arrived by air from outside the Valley during the last two days although the escorted convoys of yatris from Jammu to Srinagar were stopped. The pilgrims arriving by air started their journey from Srinagar airport to Baltal base camp, which is close to the Sonamarg hill station. These yatris were intercepted by police and paramilitary yesterday while en route to Baltal. They were stopped a day before the Army and the police told the media about “possible terror threat”.

The yatris pleaded with the officials that they would stay at Sonamarg or Baltal till August 4 and after the yatra is resumed on August 5, as the authorities had been telling everyone, they would have ‘darshan’ and get back to the airport as they were booked back on August 7 and 8. Without giving them a convincing explanation, officials were adamant. They told aspiring pilgrims to head back to Srinagar city and re-schedule their flights back home. (IANS)

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