Among dead include five women; 12 injured undergoing treatment
Rajnath talks to Guv, CM, directs for foolproof security of pilgrims
Bus was on way to Jammu from Baltal when attacked near Khanabal: Police
Srinagar, July 10: At least seven Amarnath yatris were killed and 12 others injured when suspected militants attacked their vehicle at Botengoo area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday evening.
A police spokesman said militants this evening initially attacked a police BP bunker at Botengoo in Anantnag.
He said the policemen returned the fire and there was no report of injuries.
“Thereafter, the militants fired on a police naka near Khanabal. The fire was returned by the cops,” the spokesman said.
He said a tourist bus was hit by bullets in which about 18 tourists were injured.
Six of the injured succumbed to injuries while being shifted to hospital. Later, one of the injured succumbed to injuries in the late evening.
Sources said among the dead include five women.
They said the injured were initially referred to District Hospital Anantnag, where from most of the injured were shifted to 1 Sector Army hospital at Khanabal for specialized treatment.
Police spokesman said the bus was on way to Jammu from Baltal and was not part of the convoy.
Immediately after the militant attack, police, CRPF and army men and officials reached the spot to take stock of the situation.
The force personnel launched a combing operation to track down the militants responsible for the attack. The operation was going on when reports last poured in.
Sources said after the militant attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh talked to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor N N Vohra on phone to know details about the incident.
They said Home Minister sought details of the attack from CM and Governor and also directs officials to ensure foolproof security in future.
The Amarnath yatra came under attack on August 1, 2000, when gunmen killed 30 people in Pahalgam. The victims were pilgrims and local porters. The government had blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attack.
PTI adds:
The bus bearing the registration number GJ09Z 9976 was attacked at around 8.20 pm near Khanabal when it was on its way to Jammu, police said.
Sources said the pilgrims killed in the attack belonged to Gujarat.
The bus had come from Sonamarg. The pilgrims were on their way back after visiting the Amarnath shrine, they said.
The police and top government sources said the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on the highway after 7 pm as the security cover is withdrawn after that.
The annual yatra to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas began from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal amidst tight security arrangements on June 29.
Over 35,000 security personnel have been deployed for security of yatris and smooth conduct of the yatra this year.
Among the security arrangements for the 45-day yatra are a satellite tracking system, drones, mobile bunker vehicles and road opening parties (ROPs) along the entire route from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltal.
