Year After Terror Attack On Amarnath Yatra, Hizbul Calls Yatris ‘Guests’; Says No Need For Security Cover

A year after a terrorist attack claimed the lives of eight Amarnath Yatris, Kashmiri terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has now released an audio welcoming the pilgrims to the state, Hindustan Times has reported.

The audio message, supposedly from Hizbul’s operational commander, Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, calls on the pilgrims to complete the yatra without fear, and that they don’t even need security cover as there is no threat of an attack.

“You don’t need any security as you are our guests.

Recently J&K DGP SP Vaid said that the security of the Amarnath yatra has been beefed-up, as militants are planning to attack the yatra. This is not true. We don’t have any plan to attack Amarnath yatra and will never attack them,’’ Naikoo says in the clip.

Reportedly, he also says that the Hizbul has no problems with Kashmiri Pandits returning to the state but opposes separate colonies for them.

The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra will leave from Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar base camp today. The highest-ever number of pilgrims are expected to take part in the Amarnath Yatra this year. The number of advance registrations for the yatra has already crossed 2 lakh.

However, keeping in mind the attacks last year, at least 40,000 security personnel from the police, paramilitary forces, National Disaster Response Force and the Army have been being deployed for the pilgrims’ security this year. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on 26 August.