* Dead include six women, all are from Gujarat | Three buses were returning with pilgrims after 'darshan'
Terrorists mounted a dastardly attack and fired indiscriminately on a Jammu-bound Amarnath Yatra bus, killing seven unsuspecting pilgrims, including six women, and wounding 19 others, all from Gujarat, at Batangoo in South Kashmir's Anantnag district at 8:20 pm on Monday.
The attack, which came hours after the Jammu and Kashmir police busted an LeT module, followed two previous strikes in the span of one hour in the same district. The police said the bus was coming from Baltal after a 'darshan' and was not part of the Yatra convoy which is escorted by security forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained beyond words by the dastardly attack on peaceful Yatris. "The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone. India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks and evil designs of hate," he said.
Terrorists managed to kill pilgrims despite a recent intelligence warning that such attacks might be carried out. About 40,000 troops had been deployed for the 40-day pilgrimage. This is the first major terror attack on the Yatra in 17 years. In, 2000, LeT terrorists had killed 30 people in Pahalgam.
Two of the deceased were identified as Hansaben Patel and Vijay Patel. According to sources, three buses, all from Gujarat, with 110 passengers, were returning after a 'darshan' and were delayed beyond the allowed time for the pilgrimage, which is 7 pm. The three buses had left from Gujarat's Valsad on July 1. All three vehicles were not part of the security convoy.
Tension has gripped Jammu and Kashmir and security forces have been put on high alert. Internet services have been snapped in the Valley to prevent rumour mongering.
Some organisations have given a bandh call for Tuesday in the communally sensitive Jammu region. Shiv Sena, Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party and some social and trade bodies have supported the call. National Conference and Congress in J&K also extended support to the bandh call.
The VHP and Bajrang Dal said they would hold nationwide protests on Tuesday. The PM spoke to J&K's Governor NN Vohra, CM Mehbooba Mufti and assured all possible assistance. Congress President Sonia Gandhi sought strong action against the terrorists.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also called up Mufti and Vohra to seek details on the attack, and asked officials to ensure foolproof security for the Yatra in future. About 1.2 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves for this year's Yatra.
Jitender Singh, Minister of State in the PMO, called the attack an assault on the composite culture of Kashmir and on India's traditionally resilient civilisation. "Are apologists listening?... Indian security agencies will react soon," he said.
The attack evoked strong reactions from the Valley. "This is an assault on our values and traditions which we hold dear. We will leave no stone unturned to root out the perpetrators of this heinous crime," Mufti said.
Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah tweeted: "Very sad news. The attack cannot be condemned strongly enough. My sympathies to the families & prayers for the injured."
Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik also strongly condemned the attack.
"This incident goes against the very grain of Kashmiri ethos. The annual Amarnath Yarta has been going on peacefully for centuries and is part of our yearly rhythm and will remain so. Our heart goes out to the families of the bereaved and we express our heartfelt condolences to them", said a joint statement issued by the separatists.
The Yatra base camps are in Pahalgam and Baltal in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts. The shrine is at 3,888 metres, 46km from Pahalgam and 14km from Baltal.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the bodies would be brought to the state by the Air Force. He added that all programmes, including the visits of party chief Amit Shah and NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, by the BJP in the state have been cancelled.
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