Authorities on Friday suspended the Amarnath pilgrimage from Baltal following clashes between langar operators and other service providers which left at least 20 people injured and more than 300 tents and langars (community kitchens) destroyed in a fire.
According to sources, a local tent owner, Nayib Ahmad, was rushed to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences [SKIMS] with multiple injuries. His attendants complained to the officials alleging that a langar operator from outside the Valley stabbed Mr. Ahmad and attempted to kill him.
Within minutes, hundreds of local tent owners and their workers gathered at Baltal and attacked the langar operators. According to officials of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, that manages the seven-week-long pilgrimage, there were around 30 langars operated by non-Kashmiri charitable organisations and about 600 tents set up by the locals for accommodation of the pilgrims at the base camp of Baltal, 100 km from Srinagar.
The clashes left at least 20 people injured and could be contained only after huge security reinforcement reached the place as the intervention by local police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel proved ineffective. Police and CRPF tried firing in air, tear gas and baton charge to disperse the crowds. Seventeen of the 30 langars were destroyed as the fire spread from a vandalised langar spread. The explosion of LPG cylinders used at the langars could be heard for hours.
Residents alleged that the CRPF men resorted to indiscriminate beating of the tent owners and their workers before they set on fire a large number of their tents. The fire spread to the whole camp. Officials said that the number of the tents reduced to ashes was around 300.
However, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Gani Mir, who arrived by a helicopter along with Divisional Commissioner Sahilandar Kumar, told The Hindu that the number of the tents destroyed in the fire could be “between 50 and 60”. He said that initially there was a minor clash between a langar operator and a tent owner which snowballed into a major clash. “A couple of langars were destroyed due to LPG blasts,” Mr. Mir said. Back at the district headquarters of Ganderbal, the IGP said that the situation was “tense but under control”. He said that fire was controlled in the afternoon.
Omar briefs Rajnath
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the clash that has led to suspension of the pilgrimage from Sonmarg side.
Sources told The Hindu that Mr. Singh urged Mr. Abdullah in a telephonic conversation to take all necessary measures for restoration of calm and resumption of the pilgrimage. He also asked him to ensure that the tension does not spread to other parts of the valley, particularly the highway used by over 6 lakh pilgrims to reach the base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam. With the daily intake of over 15,000, more than 2 lakh pilgrims have so far visited the cave sharine and performed Darshan.
The Chief Minister, according to sources, assured Mr. Singh that the State government would leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and the official and non-official people associated with the Yatra. He told Mr. Singh that a team of senior officials, which included Mr. Kumar, the Kashmir Divisional Commissioner and Mr. Mir, the IGP, visited Baltal and brought the situation under control.
Efforts were underway to put in place necessary logistics to ensure that no pilgrim suffered on account of food or shelter at the base camp of Baltal, Mr. Abdullah told Mr. Singh.
Unconfirmed reports said that Mr Singh also spoke to Governor N.N. Vohra who functions as Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
