Militants may target Amarnath yatris : JK Vichar Manch

Jammu, May 16 (UNI) A Delhi-based NGO of Kashmiri Pandits has expressed apprehension that militants may target Amarnath yatris in the wake of stepped up attacks against the community in the Valley.

The Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) said extra security is needed at both the routes to the yatra, which will be commencing from June 11, from Baltal and Pahalgam.

JKVM president T N Razdan, addressing mediapersons here, said as militants have turned to soft targets in recent times, security forces have to be on a ''continuous alert'' for ensuring safety of the yatris.

Accusing the government of ''a casual approach'' towards safety of Hindus in the remote areas, he said, ''The right of life of the people living in the hilly ranges of the state is not ensured and the majority members are regularly chastised and the minority is being steadily driven out.'' Condemning the massacres at Doda and Udhampur, he said just when the people thought there was improvement in the overall situation, the militants struck back.

He claimed that Jammu was also becoming the target of militants, the JKVM chief said people in the affected districts were living at their mercy facing ''death and deprivation.'' UNI HGV YA RN1754