J&K: Amarnath Pilgrims Asked To Return After Pak Landmine, Sniper Rifle Found In Route

Earlier in the day Army had said that searches going on after specific reports that Pakistan is trying to target Amarnath Yatra by planting IEDs and attacking Yatris.

Image: ANI

New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir  government has  issued a security advisory in the interest of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists, "that they may curtail their stay in the Valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible", keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats. The Yatra was scheduled to go on till August 15. Earlier in the day Army had said that searches going on after specific reports that Pakistan is trying to target Amarnath Yatra by planting IEDs and attacking Yatris.

J&K govt issues security advisory in the interest of #AmarnathYatra pilgrims and tourists, "that they may curtail their stay in the Valley immediately & take necessary measures to return as soon as possible", keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats. (ANI) pic.twitter.com/smvN0yokMS

— ABP News (@ABPNews) August 2, 2019

Later, the Army confirmed that terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army are trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra,revealing that a landmine and a sniper rifle were found on the route of the pilgrimage as the forces launched a massive operation along the Yatra route, during which a huge a cache of arms was recovered.  It included a mine with a Pakistan Ordnance Factory stamp and an American sniper rifle M-24. “Pakistan Ordnance factory anti-personnel mine was recovered from the terror cache busted by security forces. An M-24 American sniper rifle with a telescope was also recovered from a terror cache along Shri Amarnath ji route”, Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General K J S Dhillon  said in a joint conference along with  Jammu & Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh in Srinagar. "Type of IEDs we are examining and the IED expert terrorists we are capturing and eliminating point to the fact that Pakistan is trying to disrupt peace in Kashmir. We assure 'awaam' of Kashmir that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace", Dhillon said. "A Pakistan Army landmine has also been recovered from one of the caches of terrorists. This clearly indicates that Pakistan Army is involved in terrorism in Kashmir, this will not be tolerated," he added. On the reports of additional troops being sent to the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said security personnel were on regular duty during the year because of elections, among others, with no time to relax. He said there were also "fresh inputs of increase in violence by terrorists" which made it necessary to "strengthen the counter intelligence grid" on the ground. Refusing to give the exact number of additional troops being sent to the Valley, Singh said they will give on-ground troops some time to relax and strengthen the security system. (with inputs from agencies)