Jammu & Kashmir: Indian security forces have confirmed that there exist serious threats of terror attacks on Amarnath Yathra. Intelligence reports say that terrorists are planning to strike the Amarnath Yathra, which could destabilize the entire region.
An advisory by the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department asked the tourists and Amarnath Yathris to curtail their stay and return home in wake of the security threat.
The advisory read, “In the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yathris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible.“
In a joint press conference by senior officers of Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police, Corps Commander, Lt. General K. J. S. Dhillon said, “In the last three to four days, we got confirmed intel reports that terrorists are trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yathra. A thorough search was carried out on the route by a combined team of Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police.”
The Corps Commander also revealed that weapons have been discovered. He said, “We had achieved major success. An M-24 American sniper rifle with a telescope and a landmine with Pakistan ordnance factory markings have been recovered. The route of the Amarnath Yathra was sanitized for three days.”
Lt General Dhillon also requested to mothers of local Kashmiri youth to desist their children from participating in stone-pelting. He warned that these youths then become terrorists and end up being killed within one year at the hands of Indian security forces.
Additional Director General of CRPF, Zulfiqar Hasan, said that there were serious attempts to disrupt the Yathra but the hard work of security personnel, with help of technology and support of the people, were able to prevent such acts.
Indian security forces have reinforced itself with an extra 28,000 personnel being rushed to the valley. This is in addition to the 10,000 security persons brought into the state earlier.
This building up of forces is in response to the grave security threat that is currently existing in the valley.
Political activists and experts warn that Pakistan could activate its sleeper cells to commit suicide attacks across the State. The terror launch pads in Pakistan have been activated. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar’s brother Ibrahim Azhar is said to have relocated to Pakistan occupied Kashmir to oversee the affairs.
