60 % pilgrims travel without security from Jammu to Kashmir

Srinagar: About 60 per cent pilgrims who had paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas till Wednesday evening since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from July Ist, have travelled from Jammu to Kashmir without any security cover on their own.
According to official records available here out of 130500 yatries who have darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam till last evening only 48627 pilgrims have travelled under security cover in official convoys from Bagwati Nagar Base camp from Jammu to Baltal in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, his advisors, and leaders of different mainstream political parties have time and again said that due to cooperation of the local people, particularly in the Kashmir valley, Amarnath yatra was being held successfully for more than a century. Even the separatists had welcomed the pilgrimage and said the yatries are guests.
The official record said on the first day of the yatra 8400 paid obeisance at the cave shrine on July Ist when only 2234 pilgrims had arrived from Jammu at Baltal and Nunwan base camps on June 30 under security arrangements. On July 2, only 4417 pilgrims had arrived at base camps in Kashmir under security cover when 11500 paid obeisance.
Similarly, on June 3, 13835 have darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam when 5904 arrived here in official convoy under security cover from Jammu.
Official record further said that on July 4, 16789 pilgrims paid obeisance when only 4694 yatries had arrived from Jammu under security cover while on July 5, 16745 pilgrims had darshan at the cave shrine against 5522 yatries who had arrived base camps in Kashmir under security cover. On July 6, 14402 yatries had paid obeisance against 4722 who had arrived here from Jammu under security cover.
Similarly on June 7. 14293 pilgrims had darshan at the holy cave shrine when only 5124 yateis had arrived under security cover from Jammu.
However, yatra was suspended from Baghwati Nagar, Jammu on July 8 when there was strike called by separatists on the third death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter in Kokernag area in Anantnag on this day in 2016. However, 15732 pilgrims paid obeisance on July 8 when only 4773 yataries had arrived from Jammu on July 7 under security cover.
Despite suspension of yatra from Jammu on July 8, 9541 pilgrims had darshan at the cave shrine on July 9 when 5964 yatries left Jammu for Kashmir base camp in the morning. July 10, 9307  pilgrims have darshan at the cave shrine till last night.
The records show that about 60 per cent pilgrims are travelling in their own vehicles without any security cover from Jammu to cave shrine. Similarly, majority pilgrims after darshan are visiting tourist resorts, particularly Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Dal Lake and Sonmarg before going to their homes without any security cover.