Jihadi terrorist Wani’s killing : Amarnath Yatra suspended

Is it not shameful for govt and administration that because of a killing of a jihadi terrorist, we have to suspend Amarnath Yatra ? Also a question arises that if terror has no religion then why Hindu pilgrimage has been stopped after a killing of a jihadi terrorist ? Will seculars answer this ? – Editor, Hindujagruti

Authorities on Saturday suspended the Amarnath yatra from Jammu base camp due to apprehensions of law and order problems in Kashmir Valley following the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two associates in an encounter with security forces on Friday.

“The Amarnath yatra has been suspended from Jammu base camp. No fresh pilgrims will be allowed to proceed towards the Valley today,” a police official said.

Though the yatra will continue from Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir, the pilgrims would be advised to stay put at these camps till further advisory on their movement is issued, he said.

The steps have been taken in view of tension in the Valley following the killing of 21-year-old Wani, considered as a ‘poster boy’ of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group for wooing Kashmiri youths to militancy, in Kokernag area of south Kashmir Anantnag district on Friday.

The official said a decision on resuming the Amarnath yatra from Jammu will be taken after assessing the situation in the Valley.

Wani in his video message last month had assured that his outfit will not harm any Amarnath pilgrim as “they are our guests”. His video message had come in response to a senior security force official claiming that militants might carry out attacks on Amarnath pilgrims.

Meanwhile, All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Separatist leader Asiya Andrabi have called for a complete state wide shutdown on Saturday and appealed to the people to participate in his funeral prayers in large numbers.

Geelani also appealed to the people to hold funeral prayers in-absentia for Wani at their respective places who could not reach Tral.

Immediately after the news of Burhan’s death spread, pro-Pakistan slogans were heard in downtown Srinagar on Friday with people coming out on the roads and burning tyres.

Later in the evening, restrictions have been imposed in areas falling under seven police stations which include Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M R Gunj, Safakadal, Maisuma, Kralkhud.

All school board exams scheduled for the day have been postponed.

Train services from Baramulla in Kashmir region to Banihal town in Jammu have also been suspended.

Burhan is believed to have taken to the gun to avenge his elder brother’s humiliation by the security forces who made him do squats after picking him up apparently without any basis.

Several images of Burhan and posts extolling him were uploaded on social networking sites like Facebook which the security agencies had got removed but that did not dent his popularity.

Considered as a ‘Poster Boy’ of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group for wooing Kashmiri youths to militancy, Burhan had joined the militant outfit in 2010 when he was just 15 years of age.

He introduced a new wave of tech-savy militants who used social media platform to find recruits and influence Kashmiri youth.

Source : Rediff