Amarnath yatris, tourists asked to leave Kashmir with immediate effect

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday asked Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to curtail their stay and leave Kashmir valley as soon as possible in view of the militant threats.

The Principal Secretary Home Department, Shaleen Kabra in an advisory issued here on Friday said that keeping in view the militant threat and prevailing situation, pilgrims and tourists are asked to curtail their stay and leave the valley."It is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible," the order said.

The advisory comes at a time when Centre has reportedly decided to send an additional 28,000 troop to the valley, besides putting Air Force and the Army on high operational alert.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army's 15 Corps during a press conference on Friday said that Pakistan and its Army are desperate to disrupt peace in Kashmir valley. 

Asserting that attempts made by militants backed by Pakistan and its Army to target Amarnath yatra has been foiled, he said that huge cache of arms and ammunition, including a Pakistan made Anti-personnel mine, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and a sniper rifle, have been recovered from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes to the holy cave shrine.

Reacting to the development, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said this sort of alert, if actually issued, would be about something very different. "What ongoing situation in Kashmir would require the army and the Air Force to be put on alert? This isn't about 35A or delimitation. This sort of alert, if actually issued, would be about something very different," Mr Abdullah, who is the Vice President of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

People in Kashmir valley have been on the edge from last few days after additional paramilitary companies have been sent to the valley, giving rise to speculation to many theories.  

Several orders given by different security agencies have further fueled the speculations in the valley, where people have resorted to panic buying essential commodities, fearing trouble about August 15.(UNI)