Srinagar: Seven pilgrims bound for Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir were killed on July 10 when terrorists opened fire on their bus.
At least 12 other pilgrims were wounded in the attack in Anantnag district.
The bus from Gujarat was reportedly not part of the main pilgrimage convoy and was not registered with the shrine board, the Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF said. The main convoy was escorted by the CRPF which has now rushed troops to the spot.
Terrorists launched the attack on the bus at 8:20 pm in the Bantegoo area of the district, said officials.
The police claimed the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on a highway after 7 pm, reported news agency Press Trust of India.
The terrorists also fired at a police party in the area.
Internet services have also been suspended in the Kashmir Valley following the attack.
Jammu and Kashmir minister Naeem Akhtar, condemning the attack, said it as a dark patch on the history of Kashmir. “This is the first time yatris have been targeted. Crackdown against terror will continue,” he added.
Following the attack, security has also been enhanced at Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur.
The annual pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Amarnath began from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal amid tight security arrangements on June 29. More than 6,000 pilgrims were allowed to move toward the shrine from north Kashmir’s Baltal base camp while 5,000 pilgrims proceeded from the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route.
Around 120,000 pilgrims have registered themselves this year.
Among the security arrangements for the 45-day pilgrimage are satellite tracking system, drones, mobile bunker vehicles and road opening parties along the entire route from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltal.
The federal government has provided an additional 40,000 paramilitary forces to assist the state government for the yatra (pilgrimage0.