600 pilgrims leave for Buddha Amarnath

Jammu, Aug 18: The first batch of nearly 600 pilgrims from different parts of the country today left for Baba Buddha Amarnath, near the Line of Control in bordering Poonch district, from Ved Mandir complex here.

The pilgrims, chanting 'Jai Baba Buddha Amarnath', 'Jai Chattani Baba', 'Har-har Mahadev', were led by Swami Swaroop Dass and other Bajrang Dal leaders from Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The yatra was flagged off by Dr Ramakant Dubey, president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Jammu and Kashmir unit.

The VHP, in a release, said nearly 489 pilgrims, comprising 407 men, 75 women and seven children, left for Chattani Baba; 12 buses from Ved Mandir while over 100 pilgrims joined the convoy at Akhnoor.

According to Parkash Sharma, Chief of Bajrang Dal, the pilgrims will reach Poonch by evening and leave early next morning for Buddha Amarnath for Lord Shiva's darshan there.

However, Mr Sharma criticised the administration for not providing proper security for the yatra as demanded by VHP and BD leaders.

''The administration was totally non-cooperative,'' he added.

UNI