Massive hunt launched to nab militants responsible for attack on yatris

Meanwhile, cutting across party lines, mainstream political, social, religious and separatist organisations have strongly condemned the attack and called it inhumane act.

Senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers said the bus, which was attacked by militants at Batangoo Khanabal Anantng at 20:20 hrs, has violated security norms as Road Opening Parties (ROPs) are withdrawn after 19:00 hrs on the highway and other yatra routes.

So far, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack though some reports said Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) was behind it.

Official sources said that a massive hunt has been launched in the Kashmir valley, where security forces are already on high alert. 

Security forces and police have conducted raids at several places in Anantnag and other south Kashmir districts.

Additional security forces and the Army had been deployed on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and other Amarnath yatra routes to foil any militant attack on the yatra.

Inspector General of CRPF, who visited Anantnag this morning, said it was a matter of investigation how the vehicle carrying yatris was allowed to move after the withdrawal of the ROP at 19:00 hrs.

About the militant group involved in the attack, he said, it is too early to identify the militant group.

Senior police officers claimed that it was not an attack on yatra bus but on a CRPF and police in the area. They said the bus was caught in cross fire.

Seven yatris, five of them women, were killed and 21 others were injured in the attack. The victims were from Gujarat.

Immediately after the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness, locals immediately shifted the injured to hospital.

The yatris said that they had paid obeisance at the cave shrine two days ago and were on way to Katra, Jammu, from Srinagar. "We had planned to visit Shri Mata Vaishno devi Shrine to pay obeisance," they said.

Hundreds of local youths immediately rushed to the Anantnag hospital to offer blood and other facilities to injured and other yatris.

Officials said youths donated blood for the injured yatris while large number of youths had assembled outside S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and SMHS hospital to provide all help and blood to pilgrims.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who visited Anantnag late last night and inquired about the condition of the injured in the hospital, said she had no words to condemn the attack on yatris.

She has expressed deep shock and anguish over the death of pilgrims in the militant attack and said that yatris were esteemed guest of Kashmir and perpetrators of crime have done a death blow to the ethos and culture of the state.

Strongly condemning the attack, Chief Minister said time has come for every right thinking Kashmiri to rise against this macabre menace before it devours everybody around.

"It is a gruesome attack not only on unsuspecting guests but a brazen attack on Kashmir and Kashmiriyat and all of us shall have to rise against this scourge of violence sooner the better," she said.

The Chief Minister has directed the state administration to provide all possible security to the yatris giving quality treatment to the injured pilgrims.

Deputy Chief Minsiter Nirmal Singh, who also visited Anantnag late last night and meet injured in the hospital, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring the situation.

The attack was a desperate attempt by militants, he said, adding that injured are being provided best treatment and majority of them are now out of danger.

President and working president of the opposition National Conference (NC) Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, have also strongly condemned the attack.

Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed shock and anguish over the attack and said it was against the teachings of Islam.

Expressing deep sorrow and grief over the deadly attack  Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President G A Mir has strongly condemned the attack and described it as shocking and highly shameful.

Mir offered deepest condolences to bereaved families and sympathised with them. He also expressed solidarity with bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to departed souls.

He also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation and described it as utter failure of the State Government on all fronts.  

Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who are spearheading the agitation, demanding right to self determination, have also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the Killing of Amarnath Yatris in Anantnag.

They strongly condemned it and said that this incident goes against the very grain of Kashmiri ethos.

The annual Amarnath Yarta has been going on peacefully for centuries and is part of our yearly ritual and will remain so, the separatist said, adding that "Our heart goes out to the families of the bereaved and we express our heartfelt condolences to them."