Under severe criticism for the terrorist attack on Amarnath pilgrims, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asked security agencies to watch for any kind of “backlash” against Kashmiris, particularly students, living in other parts of the country.
Mr. Singh, while replying to an abusive tweet, said “all Kashmiris were not terrorists”.
The J&K police in their preliminary report to the Home Ministry described the terrorists as “unidentified gunmen,” though Inspector-General of Police Muneer Khan said it was the handiwork of “Lashkar militants”.
CRPF Director-General R.R. Bhatnagar told The Hindu that vehicles not part of the Amarnath convoy and travelling after the security teams would be withdrawn. Security forces cover the National Highway 44 from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Amarnath Yatra as there are definite time schedules for the movement of vehicles carrying pilgrims. The report said the bus came under attack twice within a distance of 75 metres, first from the front near a petrol pump and then near an automobile shop, when it was on the way from Srinagar in Kashmir to Katra in Jammu.
There was no mention of a police jeep, which was also attacked, in the report.
A senior Home Ministry official said the twin attacks suggested there were two groups of terrorists. “It is only a preliminary report and all facts are subject to verification,” said Ashok Prasad, Home Ministry spokesperson.
Another official said there would be no radical shift in security strategy.
Though security agencies expected a wave of violence around July 8 — the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the Centre had downplayed the threats and said they were not making any special security arrangements as Wani was among hundreds of terrorists killed in the Valley.
Wani was killed in an encounter with the security forces on July 8 last year, leading to massive spate of violence and protests in the Kashmir Valley. Over 70 civilians were killed during the protests that followed Wani’s death.
Another official said the number of Central forces and Army personnel deployed in the Valley was the maximum ever as they prepared for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and July 8, which was devoid of any major incident.