Tight security in J&K, Amarnath yatra suspended

Srinagar, July 9: Authorities on Saturday suspended the Amarnath yatra from Jammu base camp due to apprehensions of law and order problems in Kashmir Valley following the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two associates in an encounter with security forces on Friday.

"The Amarnath yatra has been suspended from Jammu base camp. No fresh pilgrims will be allowed to proceed towards the Valley today," a police official said.

Though the yatra will continue from Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir, the pilgrims would be advised to stay put at these camps till further advisory on their movement is issued, he said.

The steps have been taken in view of tension in the Valley following the killing of 21-year-old Wani, considered as a 'poster boy' of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group for wooing Kashmiri youths to militancy, in Kokernag area of south Kashmir Anantnag district yesterday.

The official said a decision on resuming the Amarnath yatra from Jammu will be taken after assessing the situation in the Valley. Wani in his video message last month had assured that his outfit will not harm any Amarnath pilgrim as "they are our guests".

His video message had come in response to a senior security force official claiming that militants might carry out attacks on Amarnath pilgrims. Till last evening, 1,03,063 pilgrims had 'darshan' of the ice lingam at the cave shrine of Amarnath.

On the sixth day of Amarnath yatra, 15,593 people paid obeisance at the holy cave yesterday. The yatra will conclude on August 17.

PTI