Seven Amarnath pilgrims killed in militant attack

Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed in a militant attack in Anantnag, the police said. On Monday night, militants attacked an armoured police car, an official said. When the police fired back, the militants fled, firing indiscriminately, the official added. A bus carrying yatris was on the highway at the time of the incident. The police claimed the bus driver had violated rules, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on a highway after 7 pm.

Seven pilgrims, most of them women, were killed in a gunbattle that erupted in Kashmir on Monday following two militant attacks on police.

The pilgrims were in a bus on their way back from the Amarnath shrine deep in the Himalayas when their bus got caught in the crossfire in Anantnag town, police said.

Twelve pilgrims were wounded in the fighting that was triggered after the militants attacked a police bunker and another police party at a checkpoint.

About 100,000 pilgrims have already completed the journey to the Amarnath shrine that began late last month and is due to end in late August under tight security.

“Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone,” Modi tweeted, adding that he has spoken to the governor and chief minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and assured all possible help.

The Amarnath cave, located 12,000 feet above sea level in Lidder Valley in Indian Kashmir, is visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year in the months of July and August.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Vohra and Mehbooba. He directed officials to ensure foolproof security is provided.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley termed the attack as the “most reprehensible act” and said, “This incident should add to our determination to eliminate terrorism.”The attack was condemned by other leaders as well.