New Delhi:
At least 7 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims killed while several others were injured after terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying Pilgrims in Bantigoo area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. Terrorists attacked the bus when a police party was escorting them.
Seven Amarnath pilgrims, five of them women, were killed in a militant attack in Anantnag, the police said.
At 8.20 pm today, the militants attacked an armoured car of the police, an official said. When the police fired back, the militants fled, firing indiscriminately, the official added.
Ministry of Home Affairs called an emergency meeting and the security was beefed up in the Jammu and Kashmir. A high was also issued.
A bus carrying pilgrims was on the highway when the incident occurred.
“In the firing by militants, seven people, five of them women, were killed, and another seven injured,” the official said.
The bus had come from Sonamarg. The pilgrims were on their way back after visiting the Amarnath shrine.
The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah condemned the attack and said despite recent successes against militants the feared attack took place.
Here are the updates:
#AmarnathYatra attack: List of passengers who were travelling in the bus during the terror attack
AmarnathYatra attack: List of passengers who were travelling in the bus during the terror attack in #Anantnag pic.twitter.com/8y4gYdpOkG
— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) July 10, 2017
# J&K CM Mufti visits injured pilgrims in Anantnag Hospital. Says this was an attack on our values
# Six people from Gujarat's Valsad have lost their lives in Anantnag terror attack: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani
Condemn cowardly attack, India will never get bogged down by such acts: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on attack on #AmarnathYatra pilgrims pic.twitter.com/gsZSXmVO5j
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017
# Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack. She said the Yatra will continue despite the attack on pilgrims.
# Injured AmarnathYatra pilgrims admitted to a hospital in Anantnag.
Jammu and Kashmir: Injured #AmarnathYatra pilgrims admitted to a hospital in Anantnag, post terror attack. pic.twitter.com/0onFrtlJ1g
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017
# Rahul Gandhi also expressed his grief on the attack. He also condemned PM Modi for grave and unacceptable security lapse.
I share the pain & anguish of families who lost loved ones in the terror attack on innocent Amarnath Yatris today
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017
This is a grave & unacceptable security lapse. The PM needs to accept responsibility and never allow it to happen again
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017
# Terrorist attack on Amarnath Yatra is the most reprehensible act. My condolences to the bereaved families. This incident should add to our determination to eliminate terrorism: Arun Jaitley
# Sonia Gandhi expresses sorrow over the #Anantnag attack targeting #Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, asks for an investigation into lapses in security.
Sonia Gandhi expresses sorrow over the #Anantnag attack targeting #AmarnathYatra pilgrims, asks for investigation into lapses in security. pic.twitter.com/SvsZJ8qx0M
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017
# Amarnath Yatra will not be stopped and it will continue even after the attack.
# Security increased at Jammu base camp following the terror attack on Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims in Anantnag.
J&K: Security increased at Jammu base camp following terror attack on #AmarnathYatra pilgrims in Anantnag, checks being conducted pic.twitter.com/YqysnMbczB
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017
# India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate: PM Modi
India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017
# Pained beyond words on dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K.The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone: PM Modi
Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017
# Rajnath Singh also briefed Prime Minister Modi on the situation.
# HM Rajnath Singh has spoken with J&K CM & Guv, assured fullest assistance to help the injured.He also spoke with DG Police.
# Terrorists were on bikes and started firing indiscriminately.
# Internet services suspended in Jammu and Kashmir.
# Traffic has been suspended on Jammu-Srinagar Highway.
# The police claims the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on a highway after 7 pm.
# Security beefed up in Kashmir and a high alert has been issued.
# Home ministry has called an emergency meeting after the attack on Amarnath yatra Pilgrims.
# We strongly condemn the terror attack on Amarnath Yatris and armed forces personnel: Congress
We strongly condemn the terror attack on Amarnath Yatris and armed forces personnel #AmarnathYatra
— INC India (@INCIndia) July 10, 2017
# Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families & prayers for the injured: Omar Abdullah
# Visuals from the attack site
#Visuals from attack site: 2 Amarnath yatra pilgrims killed, many injured after terrorists attacked their bus in Batingu of J&K's Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/oAlXQseroo
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017
# UPDATE: 7 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims killed as militants open fire in Anantnag in Kashmir, say police.
# Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister condemned the attack said, despite recent successes against militants, the feared attack took place.
The one thing we had all feared this year during the yatra. In spite of recent successes against militants & unprecedented force presence. https://t.co/NUkScKdGfl
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 10, 2017
# The bus was being escorted by a Police party, 2 police men also injured.
# Terrorists attack a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims. 2 killed, 6 others injured.
2 Amarnath yatra pilgrims killed, many injured after terrorists attacked their bus in Batingu area of J&K's Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/0VUhq77r2u
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 10, 2017
The attack on Pilgrims came days after death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Earlier in the day, the Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed to have busted a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module and arrested a resident from Uttar Pradesh.
A total of 29,705 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the cave shrine since the 40-day yatra began on June 28.
Also Read | Achabal attack: LeT module busted in Jammu and Kashmir, UP resident arrested
(With agency inputs)
