"Lashkar-E_Taiba behind the attack on Amarnath Pilgrims that killed 7 people" says J&K Police

Ads11

Ads2

Seven Amarnath pilgrims killed in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night when terrorist opened a fire on a bus returning from the Amarnath shrine.At least 20 more people were injured in one of the worst terror strikes in the state.

The police in Kashmir said that the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the attack and the mastermind was a Pakistani terrorist, Abu Ismail.

The bus, which had pilgrims from Gujarat and Maharashtra, was on its way back from the Amarnath shrine located in a narrow gorge at the end of a valley nearly 50 km from Pahalgam. Police sources said the rules of the pilgrimage bans buses from travelling on a highway after 7 pm for security reasons but the bus had delayed because of a breakdown. The bus was also reportedly not part of the official tour. which means that it did not have the standard police escort.

This morning, more than 3000 pilgrims headed for Amarnath, many of them saying nothing would stop them from completing their pilgrimage. The number of vehicles escorting them has been increased by half.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called a meeting to review security in Jammu and Kashmir, especially of the Amarnath pilgrimage, which takes place every year under the protection of about 40000 troops. Foe the first time this year, the arrangements include drones and satellite tracking. 

Ads3