The security forces are maintaining heightened vigil along the entire Amarnath Yatra route after Monday’s attack, but chances of another attack are slim for now, say sources in the security establishment.
“We do not have any input on another imminent attack, and our own assessment is that the Yatra should pass off peacefully,” a senior official said.
He pointed out that there were still questions being asked about the group behind Monday’s attack on a Gujarat-registered bus, in which seven persons were killed.
“We still do not have much clarity on who were behind the attack.”
Another official pointed out that the Yatra, which concludes on August 7, should pass off peacefully. “We do not have any reason to doubt another attack is in the offing. However, we are not lowering our guard,” he said. “There is no chatter [among militants] about such a plan,” he said.
While security agencies hope that the pilgrimage will pass off without any major terrorist incident, violence in the rest of the Kashmir Valley will keep rising until winter, officials said. “The militants may not attack the yatris, but violence elsewhere will keep going up,” one official said.
Worst in a decade
According to projected statistics, Kashmir will witness the worst violence in almost a decade in 2017 — in security men, civilian and militants killed.
Starting 2009, the level of violence has steadily fallen, until 2013 when it began to pick up again. In 2009, 375 people were killed.
This year, the total casualties will be well over 400, according to projections.
Meanwhile, over 9,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine on Thursday, taking the total number of yatris who visited the holy cave since the pilgrimage began last month to over 1.77 lakh.
(With inputs from PTI)