While threat perceptions for the Amarnath Yatra were high this year, given the changed ground realities in Kashmir, security analysts have raised questions to how a bus with a Gujarat registration number, which was not registered with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, was allowed to move through the Valley in the night.
“There has been this assessment in the wake of the present phase of militancy that even the pilgrimage is a possible target, unlike in the recent past,” an intelligence official said. “And we had appropriately issued warnings to all security agencies.”
The most specific alert came from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Just two days before the 'yatra' began, Inspector General (Kashmir Range) Muneer Khan issued a warning to all security agencies, based on an input from the Anantnag police warning of a 'spectacular' attack on pilgrims.
In his June 27 letter, Mr. Khan said: “Intelligence input received from SSP Anantnag reveals that terrorists have been directed to eliminate 100 to 150 pilgrims and about 100 police officers and officials.”
“The attack may be in the form of stand-off fire on yatra convoy which they believe will result in flaring of communal tensions throughout the nation,” the letter said, adding that the input was based on human intelligence and needed further corroboration.
In the event, the Monday evening attack was strikingly similar.
In these circumstances, security sources have questioned why the bus with pilgrims started for Jammu from the Valley so late in the day. “Yatra vehicles should not be travelling on the Srinagar-Jammu highway after 7 p.m. as by then the security cover is withdrawn,” an official said.
“How could a bus not registered with the Board be allowed to take passengers to the shrine, [and] move around after 7 p.m.,” another officer asked.
Further violence
According to officials, the attack on the pilgrims is unlikely to be an isolated incident.
“There is enough indication that next few months could be among the bloodiest in recent memory,” one of them said.
He said 2017 could be the worst year in terms of militancy since 2009. “The steady drop in violence that we have witnessed in recent years is a story of the past. Kashmir militancy has moved to a new phase,” he said.
