First on Zee Media: Exclusive pictures of Amarnath Cave Shrine

[Hindustani78]

Security personnel stand guard near a bus full of Amarnath pilgrims at Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on June 28, 2017. | Photo Credit: PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...lgam-baltal/article19170956.ece?homepage=true

The annual yatra to the holy shrine of Amarnath began from Pahalgam and Baltal in Srinagar amidst tight security arrangements on June 29.

“The yatra began early this morning [June 29, 2017] from both the routes and so far more than 500 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice lingam,” a police official said.

Adequate security arrangements are in place to ensure that the 40-day pilgrimage passed off peacefully, he said.

Although militant outfits and separatist groups have assured that the annual pilgrimage would not be targeted, the security agencies are not leaving anything to chance.

Police and CRPF personnel are being assisted by ITBP and Army personnel to safeguard the two routes leading to the cave shrine.

The yatra this year will be eight days shorter than the previous year’s 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.

Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of the Lidder Valley, the shrine stands at 3,888m, 46 km from Pahalgam and 14 km from Baltal.

The first batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath

The first batch of pilgrims left for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley amid extraordinary security arrangements after intelligence inputs cautioned of militant attacks.

A security vehicle escorts the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims, on way to the holy shrine. Photo: PTI

A paramilitary soldier keeps a watch on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Photo: PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh flagging off the first batch of pilgrims. Photo: PTI

Amarnath-bound sadhus chant religious slogans in Jammu. Photo: PTI

The first batch of pilgrims who left for Amarnath Yatra, in Jammu. Photo: PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Braving inclement weather, over 6,000 pilgrims yesterday paid obeisance at Amarnath amid tight security. pti file photo
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/619996/amarnath-yatra-resumes-twin-routes.html

Amarnath yatra resumed from Pahalgam and Baltal routes after being suspended for a few hours today due to heavy rains around the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

"The yatra has resumed from both the routes in view of the improvement in the weather condition," an official of the SASB told PTI.

The authorities had suspended the yatra early this morning due to heavy rainfall around the 3880-metre high shrine.

Meanwhile, pilgrims from Jammu base camp have been stopped from proceeding towards the Valley in view of blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to landslides at some places.

"The pilgrims headed for base camps at Baltal and Nunwan are requested to check the status of the yatra with the control room or helpline set up by the SASB before starting," the official said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Sadhus undergo a security check before getting registered for the annual Amarnath Yatra at Ram Mandir base camp in Jammu. The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims left here for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley amid extraordinary security arrangements. The 40-day yatra will culminate on August 7 on Raksha Bandhan. There are two routes: the traditional 28.2 km long Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, while the Baltal track in Ganderbal district is a 9.5 km-stretch. (PTI)

A paramilitary soldier stands guard overlooking a highway as the first batch of Hindu pilgrims leave for the 2017 Amarnath Yatra. Security has been ramped up for the visit to the shrine, situated in a mountain cave 4,115 metres above sea level. (Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times)

Sadhus wave from a bus during their Amarnath Yatra.The temperature at the cave shrine is expected to be between 1 degree and 14 degrees Celsius. (PTI)

Besides Jammu and Kashmir Police, 30,000 paramilitary personnel are deployed along both yatra routes this year. The army has also deployed five battalions in the Valley for the yatra. (PTI)

The cave houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the size of the visible moon. Devotees believe the structure symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva. (Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times)

Devotees chant religious slogans as the first batch of Hindu pilgrims leave for Amarnath Yatra. (Nitin Kanotra/HT Photo)

Paramedical staff member examines a Sadhu at a medical camp in Jammu. 253 health professionals, including 107 doctors and 146 paramedics have been deployed on yatra routes. (PTI)

A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man eats at a community kitchen at a base camp in Jammu. (Mukesh Gupta/REUTERS)

 

[Hindustani78]

The first batch of pilgrims cross mountain trails during their pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave on Pishu Top, some 127 km south-east of Srinagar, on Thursday. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

 

[Hindustani78]

An official spokesman said since the beginning of the pilgrimage, 62,608 yatris have had the darshan at the holy cave situated at an altitude of 3888 metres from sea level in deep Himalayas of Kashmir Valley. PTI file photo
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/620706/over-62-thousand-perform-darshan.html

The 40-day long Amarnath yatra, which started on June 29 is picking up day-by-day with 15,813 pilgrims paying obeisance at cave shrine on fourth day of darshan on Monday.

An official spokesman said since the beginning of the pilgrimage, 62,608 yatris have had the darshan at the holy cave situated at an altitude of 3888 metres from sea level in deep Himalayas of Kashmir Valley.

The annual pilgrimage officially commenced from Thursday when the first batch left for the cave shrine from the twin routes of Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district and Chandanwari in southern Anantnag district.

Sources said elaborate security arrangements have been made for the safe passage of the yatra, with sufficient security personnel being deployed en route, to foil any untoward incident. The Amarnath yatra will continue upto Sharvani Purnima – Raksha Bandhan which falls on August 7.

Every year, thousands of devotees undertake the yatra in July and August to pay obeisance at the shrine dedicated to lord Shiva. Last year around 2.21 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the Shrine despite disturbances in the valley after Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. Though, the authorities suspended the yatra for a few days after the situation turned volatile following Burhan's killing, there was no incident of stone pelting on pilgrims reported from anywhere.

Contradictory to the projections, Kashmiris, setting up an example of communal harmony, offered free meals to the pilgrims at various places including at Nigeen Club and Tourist Reception Center in Srinagar.
This year the yatra has started nine-days ahead of Burhan's first death anniversary, when security agencies apprehend trouble.

 

[Sinnerman108]

Lets see what happens this year.

For what its worth, I understand now why Bollywood makes so many movies.

 

[Hindustani78]

The 40-day annual yatra, which commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on June 29, is scheduled to culminate on August 7.
india Updated: Jul 04, 2017 17:35 IST
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...imbs-to-six/story-ej89ITBRAhSYZ4EO1vavqN.html

Pilgrims on way to Amarnath yatra on their mules against the backdrop of the Himalayas.(HT Photo)

Two pilgrims died on Tuesday after paying obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to six, officials said.

Chander Shakher (73), resident of Karnataka, fell unconscious after performing ‘darshan’ near the shrine around 11.35 AM. He was rushed to base camp hospital where doctors declared him as brought dead, they said.

His body was handed over to his relatives for last rites, the officials said.

Shiva Kanth Mishra (59), resident of Uttar Pradesh, suffered cardiac arrest when he was retuning from the cave shrine, at Brarimarg along the Baltal-cave route resulting in his on the spot death, they said.

Besides, an assistant sub-Inspector of ITBP died of heart attack at Brarimarg on June 28 during deployment of the forces along the tracks for the security of the pilgrims.

The 40-day annual yatra, which commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on June 29, is scheduled to culminate on August 7, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.

So far, over 70,000 pilgrims had offered prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-lingam.

 

[turbofan7a]

Jai bholenath!

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar, September 14, 2017 18:43 IST
Updated: September 14, 2017 19:03 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...illed-in-jk/article19684575.ece?homepage=true

Security personnel stand guard near the encounter site in Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

The identity of the second terrorist killed in the encounter is being ascertained, a police official said.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Ismail, the mastermind behind the July 10 attack on Amarnath yatra pilgrims, was among two terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar on Thursday, police said.

The identity of the second terrorist is being ascertained, a police official said.

The encounter took place at Aribagh in Nowgam area on the outskirts of Srinagar, the official said.

Director General of Police (DGP) S.P. Vaid said police had specific intelligence input about the presence of foreign terrorists in the area and an operation was launched to neutralise them.

“We had information about the presence of two foreign terrorists, including Abu Ismail. Both have been neutralised and the bodies have been taken for identification,” he said.

Ismail was the mastermind of the July 10 attack on a bus carrying Amarnath yatra pilgrims in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The attack left eight pilgrims dead.

 

[Hindustani78]

Srinagar, September 14, 2017 18:43 IST
Updated: September 14, 2017 19:03 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...illed-in-jk/article19684575.ece?homepage=true

Security personnel stand guard near the encounter site in Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

The identity of the second terrorist killed in the encounter is being ascertained, a police official said.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Ismail, the mastermind behind the July 10 attack on Amarnath yatra pilgrims, was among two terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar on Thursday, police said.

The identity of the second terrorist is being ascertained, a police official said.

The encounter took place at Aribagh in Nowgam area on the outskirts of Srinagar, the official said.

Director General of Police (DGP) S.P. Vaid said police had specific intelligence input about the presence of foreign terrorists in the area and an operation was launched to neutralise them.

“We had information about the presence of two foreign terrorists, including Abu Ismail. Both have been neutralised and the bodies have been taken for identification,” he said.

Ismail was the mastermind of the July 10 attack on a bus carrying Amarnath yatra pilgrims in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The attack left eight pilgrims dead.

A file photo of the J&K Chief Minister Mehooba Mufti meeting the injured Amarnath pilgrims.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...arnath-terror-attack-case/article22553473.ece

SIT probe “based on technical and oral evidence” completed in a record six months

Eleven militants used two cars and one motorbike to carry out the attack on a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims on July 10 last year in Kashmir and “the spot and the target was picked just days before the attack”, says the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that filed a chargesheet against the accused on Monday.

Speaking to The Hindu, SIT head and Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Ashraf Bhatti said, “The Pakistan based terrorists, including locals, and its head Abu Ismail, picked the spot and the target just a few days before the attack. It was executed by four terrorists directly, with others being assigned their role to provide logistics and keep an eye on the movement of the yatri bus.”

According to the 1,500-page SIT report, the bus got disconnected from its security cover first at Pantha Chowk, where the pilgrims picked up more associates, and “later developed a technical snag”, which was attended to at Awantipora.

The movement of the bus was monitored “constantly by the militants before it reached Anantnag’s Batengo area”, where militants opened fire. The militants used code language on phones to convey the status of the bus, and if it had security cover.

According to the charge sheet, Pakistan-based militants Abu Ismail alias Haroon, Maaviya and Furqan were part of the attack. All the three were killed in encounters in Srinagar and Qazigund last year.

Of the 11 accused, four persons, including a juvenile, have been arrested. “Three are still absconding,” it said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ja...ed-rifles-sent-for-forensic-tests/536112.html

Posted at: Jan 31, 2018, 12:36 AM; last updated: Jan 31, 2018, 12:36 AM (IST)
Amarnath yatra attack: Seized rifles sent for forensic tests


Tribune News Service
Srinagar, January 30

The Special Investigation Team, which on Monday filed a chargesheet against the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and eight accused persons in the case involving an attack on a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims in July last year, has sent the assault rifles recovered from the main accused, Abu Ismail, and three other slain militants, for forensic examination.

The test would establish if the same weapons were used in the attack. The forensic examination of the bullets and empty cartridges recovered from the spot has already established that more than three weapons were used to rain bullets on the bus.

However, the chargesheet said the forensic report of the four assault rifles recovered at two encounter sites from the four slain LeT militants allegedly involved in the attack was still awaited.

Eight pilgrims were killed when the bus, carrying Amarnath yatris from the Baltal base camp to Jammu, was attacked at 8.10 pm on the Srinagar-Jammu highway near Botengoo village in Anantnag district on July 10, 2017.

The rifle recovered and seized by the Nowgam police station from Ismail was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Jammu, for comparison and examination. The rifles recovered and seized by the Qazigund police station from the dead accused (militants) were also sent to the FSL for comparison and examination. The report is awaited and will be brought on record before the court when received,” SP Tahir Ashraf Bhatti, Investigation Officer, submitted in the chargesheet.

Among the 11 persons named in the chargesheet, four accused Lashkar militants have been killed in encounters. Ismail was killed at Arigam in Nowgam, Srinagar, on September 14 while Yawar Bashir and Pakistani nationals Maaviya and Furqaan were killed at Qazigund on December 12.

The chargesheet said the evidence collected from the spot included dry blood samples, fragments of bullets, empty cartridges and UBGL. “The evidence established the fact that a terrorist attack was carried out on the yatra bus. It resulted in the death of eight yatris and injuries to 19 others,” said the chargesheet.

The bus was inspected in the presence of a magistrate by ballistic experts of the FSL, Jammu, and FSL unit, Anantnag. Prima facie it was found that it had 43 bullet marks, mostly on the right side,” the chargesheet added.

On the other hand, Tahir Ashraf told The Tribune that a forensic report and evidence had established that three or more weapons were used during the attack. “As per our investigation, four weapons were used during the attack. The forensic report of the weapons will add to the evidence or corroborate the facts,” he said.