Amid terror attack threats, Jammu and Kashmir govt directs Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, tourists to leave
New Delhi, Aug 2 (IBNS): Amid heightened terror attack threats following intelligence reports, the Jammu and Kashmir government has directed Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to cut short their stay in the Kashmir Valley "immediately" and go back.
The statement was issued by the government in the backdrop of intel inputs on terror threats.
"Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats, with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible," the state government said in a statement.
The Indian Army on Friday said that intelliegence reports have revealed that terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army are trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra.
The army said snipper rifle and landmine were recovered on the path where the pilgrimage takes place.
Seriously? You think an official order telling tourists to leave immediately will not cause them to run from the valley as fast as they can? Which tourist will hang around after seeing this order. The airport & highway will be choked with people leaving. https://t.co/wzVllSqVpk
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 2, 2019
Chinar Corps Commander Lt General KJS Dhillon told reporters: "In the last three-four days, there were confirmed intelligence reports that terrorists backed by Pakistan and its army are trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra."
He said a thorough search was conducted.
"We had major successes in these searches," he said.
He said, "Repeated infiltration efforts are being made across the LoC. A Pakistan army landmine and a sniper rifle were found on route of the yatra."
He said the yatra route has been 'sanitized' very well.
"Operations are still going on," he said as the Army and police held a joint press conference.
Officials revealed at the news conference that a landmine with Pakistan ordnance factory markings and an M-24 American sniper rifle with a telescopic sight were recovered.
#WATCH Jammu and Kashmir: Joint press conference by Chinar Corps Commander Lt General K J S Dhillon and J&K DGP Dilbag Singh in Srinagar https://t.co/wFCu9BaxN6
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2019
A huge number of devotees participate in the Amarnath Yatra every year.
The Army made the revelations at a time when the country is gearing up to celebrate the Aug 15 Independence Day.
Earlier, Intelligence sources told IBNS that a Pakistan emboldened by the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the United States, has reactivated its terror launch pads against India in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) with plans to trigger something big in Kashmir.
"Terror launch pads in PoK, which were dismantled and pushed back to interior, have now been reactivated," sources told IBNS.
According to Indian sources, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar's brother Ibrahim Azhar had been relocated to PoK to oversee the affairs.
Indian sources said the Indian troops have been sent there (Kashmir) for this reason, amid heavyexchange of cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani soldiers along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday claiming the lives of two Pakistani soldiers.
One Indian trooper was killed in another sector during the latest ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Pakistan even resorted to artillery firing in Tangdhar sector forcing a befitting response by Indian troopers.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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