IED on Amarnath route defused

Srinagar, June 6 (UNI) Five days before the start of the two-month-long annual Amarnath pilgrimage, police today defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants at Chandanwari, second halting point on Pahalgam-Amarnath route.

Official sources said some locals noticed an unidentified parcel at Chandanwari on the pilgrimage route today. They immediately informed the police.

Sources said a bomb disposal squad was rushed to the area from Anantnag and the IED was defused without causing any damage.

Officials expect more than 5,00,000 pilgrims to visit the shrine this year. Last year the pilgrimage remained incident free and more than 4 lakh devotees had the glimpse of the self made ice lingam in the caves.

UNI BAS PA RAI2012