Immediately cut down stay, return as soon as possible: JK Govt to tourists, Amarnath Yatris

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday asked Amarnath Yatris and tourists to immediately make necessary arrangements to cut short their stay in the Valley and return as soon as possible in the wake of intelligence inputs of “specific threats” to the pilgrimage. The Principal Secretary (Home) issued a security advisory, saying pilgrims and tourists “may curtail their stay” and “return as soon as possible”. “Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats, with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the Valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible,” it said. The on-spot registration of pilgrims at Jammu has been stopped after the government advisory. “Though we have not received any formal orders in this connection, we have stopped on spot registration of Amarnath pilgrims till further orders,” said a senior officer who wished not to be named. Pointing out that they usually make on the spot registration of 1000-1200 pilgrims daily, an official pointed out that Amarnath yatra was already suspended till August 4 in view of inclement weather. “Now, in view of the fresh advisory from the government following intelligence inputs over terror threats, we will be asking the Yatris camping here to return home as the yatra is almost over,” he added.
Some 10,000 central troops were ordered to the state about a week ago and reports suggest more have been sent since then.. On Thursday this week, the centre reportedly sent over 25,000 more troops to Kashmir, fueling speculation that something major was afoot.The last time Kashmir saw such heavy presence of troops was after the Pulwama attack in February, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers were killed .