The annual Amarnath yatra in Kashmir beginning on Wednesday is facing a terror threat, according to an intelligence warning which has prompted the authorities to mobilise the “highest level” of security measures, including satellite tracking system.
The 40-day-long pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath in the mountainous region of south Kashmir will commence from Jammu, about 200 km from the shrine.
Over 2.30 lakh pilgrims have registered for the yatra and the first batch of over 4,000 will be flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh for the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts.
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“Intelligence input received from SSP Anantnag reveals that terrorists have been directed to eliminate 100 to 150 pilgrims and about 100 police officers and officials,” according to a letter sent by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Muneer Khan to the Army, the CRPF, and range DIGs in the State.
“The input is assessed to be a HUMINT (human intelligence) and it needs further corroboration,” the IGP said in the letter.
At this stage, the possibility of a sensational attack by a terrorist outfit cannot be ruled out, he said.
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“The attack may be in the form of stand-off fire on yatra convoy which they believe will result in flaring of communal tensions throughout the nation,” the IGP said in the letter which is being circulated in many groups on Whatsapp.
All the officers and officials deployed on the ground need to remain alert and maintain utmost vigil, he added in the letter whose copy got leaked and went viral on social media.
Mr. Khan later tried to play it down, saying there was no need to panic as it was part of information being shared with agencies to check its authenticity.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP S.P. Vaid said someone had spread it on social media to create panic.