Muslims continue to help Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 6 (UNI) Notwithstanding the economic blockade and attacks on muslims and Kashmiri drivers in Jammu by some communal forces, the local muslims in the Kashmir continued to help pilgrims visiting the holy shrine from Baltal and Pahalgam routes.

Official sources said 1174 yatris proceeded to the Amarnath cave including 632 from Pahalgam and 542 from Baltal. These include 277 pilgrims going to the cave shrine by air.

They said today 613 yatris including 401 from Pahalgam route visited the shrine for darshan.

Sources said the smooth pilgrimage was not possible with out the active help of the local muslims of Ganderbal and Anantnag districts.

The pilgrims were all praise by the arrangements and the hospitality extended by the local people.

Hariram Harinathika a pilgrim from Tata Nagar, Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) said some elements were creating misconceptions but he found local people very nice and cooperative.

Another yatri Ganpath Amrita Jawahari, hailing from Ahmad Nagar, Maharashtra, said besides local people, the army also helps the pilgrims. He said he encountered no problem during the yatra.

Jawahari had taken the Pahalgam route to the cave shrine and returned via Baltal and did not encountered with any problem.

H C Gupta of Gurgaon, Haryana and Mahendra Gupta of Kolkata, who had just returned from the holy cave, also shared similar views and said secular traditions have to be kept alive to foster amity among different communities.

UNI BAS QAB JT VC1920