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2017 Amarnath Yatra massacre

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Template:Violence against Hindus in post-1947 India On 10 July 2017, the first Monday of the month of Shraavana, 7 Hindu civilian pilgrims on the way from Amarnath Temple in Kashmir Valley, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir were killed in a terror attack.[1][2] The pilgrims mostly belonged to the Indian state of Gujarat.[3][4] Among the at least seven people killed, six were women, and at least 19 people were injured in the attack.[5]

The attack

The white coloured bus number plated (GJ09Z9979) at which the attack took place carried about 50 pilgrims when it was attacked by the members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. It was reported by the India Today that the attack was carried out by 3-5 terrorists at the location of Khanabal. [6][7][8][9] Though the bus contained more than 50 people, a larger number of casualties was prevented to a great extent due to the actions of the bus driver named "Saleem Mirza".[10] Despite the bus being fired on by the bullets in all directions, the bus driver continued driving the bus in a calm manner for about 1 km before stopping at an intersection.[9].

The Inspector General of CRPF in Kashmir, Muneer Khan, said[11][12] that Pakistan-backed terrorist organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba,[13][14][15][16] founded by Hafiz Saeed[17][18][19][20][21][22] was behind the attack.

Background

Amarnath Yatra in the glacial heights of Himalayas in Kashmir valley.

The 48-day July-August annual Hindu pilgrimage, undertaken by up to 600,000 or more pilgrims to the 130 feet (40 m)-high glacial Amarnath cave shrine of iced stalagmite Shiv linga at 12,756 feet (3,888 m) in Himalayas, is called Amarnath Yatra.[23][24][25] It begins with a 43 kilometres (27 mi) mountainous trek from the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps at Pahalgam and reaches the cave-shine after night halts at Sheshnag Lake and Panchtarni camps.[26] The yatra is both a way of earning revenue by the state government by imposing tax on pilgrims,[27][28] and a way of making a living for the local Shia Muslim Bakarwal-Gujjars by taking a portion of the revenue and by offering services to the Hindu pilgrims, and this source of income has been threatened by the Islamist Kashmiri Sunni militant groups who have banned and attacked the yatra numerous times,[29][30][31][32][33] as well as by recent massacres of at least 59 people prior to July 2017 on this yatra, causing deaths of mostly Hindu pilgrims, in addition to at least 10 Muslim civilians, and several more Muslims among security forces.[34][35][36][37][38]


Previous incidents

See also: 2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre

Prior to this incidence, terrorists have attacked the Amaranath yatra at least 3 times in 2000, 2001 and 2002, killing at least 54 and injuring at least another 105 people, including at least 38 unarmed civilian Hindu pilgrims, at least 10 Muslim civilian support service providers, and at least 6 security personnel.[39][35][12][34][38]

On 2 August 2000, pro-Pakistan[40] Islamic terrorists from Hizbul Mujahideen (designated a terrorist organisation by India,[41] European Union[42] and United States,[43][44][45][46][47]) massacred at least 32 people and injured at least 60 people in a two hour long indiscriminate shoot out at Nunwan base camp in Anantnag district, causing the death of 21 unarmed Hindu pilgrims and 7 unarmed Muslim shopkeepers, and 3 security force officers.[35] This attack on Amarnath yatra was part of the larger 1st and 2nd August 2000 Kashmir massacre in 5 separate coordinated terrorist attacks that killed at least 89 (official count) to 105 people (as reported by PTI), and injured at least 62 more.[39]

On 20 July 2001, terrorist threw two grenades and fired indiscriminately on a pilgrim night camp at Sheshnag Lake enroute Amarnath shrine, killingat least 13 and injured another 15 people. Those killed included 5 unarmed Hindu male pilgrims, 3 unarmed Hindu female pilgrims, 3 unarmed Muslim civilians providing support services to pilgrims, and 2 security officials.[35][34][12]

On 6 August 2002, terrorists from al-Mansuriyan, a front group of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, massacred 9 pilgrims and injured 30 near Nunwan pilgrimage base camp.[35][38]

On 7 July 2017, terrorists attacked a civilian bus that was on the Baltal-Jammu route where movement of vehicles is not allowed after 7 p.m. due to the militants' threats. A tyre of the bus was punctured, taking two to two and a half hours to repair. Pilgrims are not allowed to travel on the route without road-opening parties and secuity escorts which were withdrawn at around 7:30 p.m. The bus was also not registered with the Amarnath shrine board.[37]

Casualties

Seven pilgrims from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana, including six women were killed in the attack.[7][48]

Reactions

"Rediff" reported the attack as the worst attack carried out on the annual pilgrimage since 2001.[49]

The attack was condemned by many including Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference party leader Omar Abdullah. Several Organisations, such as J&K National Conference (JKNC), Indian National Congress, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, National Panthers Party, etc. condemned the attack and called for a strike in Jammu Valley in protest against the attack. Also, Mobile and Internet services were suspended in Jammu region in view of the attack as a measure to prevent any kind of rumour mongering.[50][7][48]

Locally, the political party Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President G A Mir condemned the attack and described it as shocking and highly shameful. More than 200 activists of the JKPCC thronged the Rehari belt of Jammu city and held protests against the killing of pilgrims. They raised anti-government and anti-BJP slogans and demanded that the government should be sacked.[49]

Protest in Gujarat
Protest in Gujarat

Aftermath

The protestors in the Jammu Division burnt Pakistani flags in protest of the terrorist attack. They expressed a lack of confidence in the Mehbooba Mufti government and demanded the imposition of Governor's Rule in the State.[49][51]

The bodies of the seven Amarnath pilgrims killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir were brought to Gujarat’s Surat airport along with the injured people and their family members in an Indian Air Force plane. The Government of Gujarat announced a compensation of ₹600,000 (US$7,200) for the relatives of the every killed victims and ₹200,000 (US$2,400) for the injured victims. Subsequently the Government of India announced compensation of ₹700,000 (US$8,400) for the killed victims and ₹100,000 (US$1,200)[49]

Jammu and Kashmir State Chief Minister payed a visit to the injured victims of the attack at the hospital. During her visit she spoke to Indian media she said the attack is a "Blot on all Muslims and Kashmiri" and the "Head of every Kashmiri hangs in shame over the incident". She further said that she have no words to condemn the terror attack.[9]

Bus driver "Saleem Mirza" who was hailed as a hero due to his act of bravery spoke to Indian media and said "God gave me strength to save lives of people". The Government of Gujarat's Chief Minister Vijay Rupani thanked Mirza as he saved lives despite heavy firing. Rupani informed the Indian media that the Government of Gujarat will nominate Mirza for the bravery award with the Government of India.[10]

After being blamed for the attack by the police, a LeT spokesman condemned the attack and termed it unislamic. They denied they were involved in the attack, blaming it instead on the Indian intelligence agencies.[52][53] Police officials including Inspector General of Police of Kashmir Muneer Khan, said the attack on Amaranth Yatra pilgrims was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and the attack was masterminded by a Pakistani terrorist named Abu Ismail, a local LeT commander who is also thought to be the future successor of Abu Dujana, Lashkar's chief commander in Kashmir. He was also assisted by some Kashmiri militants. A manhunt was launched by security forces to capture Ismail.[54]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amarnath.

See also

References

  1. ^ 7 Dead in the Biggest Terror Attack on Amarnath Yatra in Years., Quint, 11 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Why Amarnath Yatra terror attack signals crossing of a red line in Kashmir".
  3. ^ "Terror attack on amarnath pilgrims". Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  4. ^ Abu Dujana, Amarnath Yatra Terror Attack: Abu Ismail, the Man Who Could be LeT Boss, in Crosshairs, News18, 11 July 2017.
  5. ^ Anuja Boss, A Look At The Bloody History Of Terror Attacks On Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims], Huffington Post, 11 July 2017.
  6. ^ Terror Attack on Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims: How it Unfolded, News18, 10 July 2017.
  7. ^ a b c Amarnath Yatra terror attack: Five women among seven killed; Ramnath Kovind condemns the attack., Indian Express, 11 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Terror attack on Amarnath yatra: 7 pilgrims killed, 19 injured in Anantnag". Business Standard.
  9. ^ a b c "Amarnath attack: How the hero bus driver drove through bullets to save many lives". Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  10. ^ a b "God gave me strength': Amarnath bus driver Saleem Mirza who was hailed a hero". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  11. ^ Amarnath Yatra Attack: LeT commander responsible behind attack, says IG; bodies of victims reach Surat, Times Now, 11 July 2017.
  12. ^ a b c Amarnath Yatra attack LIVE: Centre announces Rs seven lakh compensation for kin of those killed, Firstpost, 11 July 2017. Cite error: The named reference "fp1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ Basset, Donna (2012). Peter Chalk (ed.). Encyclopedia of Terrorism. ABC-CLIO. p. 12. ISBN 978-0313308956.
  14. ^ Jayshree Bajoria (14 January 2010). "Profile: Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure) (a.k.a. Lashkar e-Tayyiba, Lashkar e-Toiba; Lashkar-i-Taiba)". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Kurth Cronin, Audrey; Huda Aden; Adam Frost; Benjamin Jones (6 February 2004). "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 4 March 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ^ "Mumbai Terror Attacks Fast Facts". CNN.
  17. ^ "Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad". Brookings.edu. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad, transcript" (PDF). Brookings.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "The 9/11 Attacks' Spiritual Father". Brookings.edu. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "The 15 faces of terror". Rediff.com. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  21. ^ E. Atkins, Stephen (2004). Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups. Greenwood Press. p. 173. ISBN 978-0313324857.
  22. ^ Ashley J. Tellis (11 March 2010). "Bad Company – Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and the Growing Ambition of Islamist Mujahidein in Pakistan" (PDF). Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The group's earliest operations were focused on the Kunar and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan, where LeT had set up several training camps in support of the jihad against the Soviet occupation.
  23. ^ Amarnath Yatra explained, Amarnath Yatra organisation.
  24. ^ Amarnath Yatra Tourism Information, One India Online
  25. ^ Amarnath: Journey to the shrine of a Hindu god, Boston.Com, 13 July 20112.
  26. ^ Amarnath yatra ends, least number of pilgrims in decade, The Hindu, 18 August 2016.
  27. ^ BJP demands removal of Amarnath yatra entry fee, Times of India.
  28. ^ No Additional Tax Levied on Vehicles Going to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance of Government of India, 2010.
  29. ^ Carl W. Ernst, 2016, Refractions of Islam in India: Situating Sufism and Yoga, SAGE Publications, ISBN 9351509648.
  30. ^ Muslim group asks for reviving Amarnath Yatra, Times of India, 17 July 2016.
  31. ^ Expert Speak on Kashmir: No algorithm for Azadi, Observer Research Foundation, August 2016.
  32. ^ "Rediff On The NeT: Harkatul Mujaheedin 'bans' Amarnath Yatra". Rediff.com. 9 July 1998. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  33. ^ [1] Archived 10 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ a b c 6 pilgrims among 13 killed in 2 blasts, The Tribune, 11 July 2017.
  35. ^ a b c d e Vicky Nanjappa, Amarnath yatra has been attacked thrice in the past, One India News. 11 July 2017.
  36. ^ Amarnath yatra: Terrorists were directed to eliminate 100 to 150 pilgrims, says intelligence report, The Hindu, 11 July 2017.
  37. ^ a b Amarnath terror attack survivor narrates tale of punctured bus tyre and terror strike
  38. ^ a b c 2003, Chronology of Major Killings in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir herald, Volume 2, No. 11.]
  39. ^ a b "Night of massacres leaves 105 dead in valley", The Tribune, 3 August 2000.
  40. ^ Sati Sahni, 10,000 The birth of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Rediff News, July 2000
  41. ^ "::Ministry of Home Affairs:: BANNED ORGANISATIONS". 29 January 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  42. ^ "COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2015/2430 of 21 December 2015". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 15 May 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  43. ^ "US adds 4 Indian outfits to terror list". Rediff. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 13 May 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ "L – Appendix A: Chronology of Significant Terrorist Incidents, 2002". Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  45. ^ "N – Appendix C: Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups". Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Appendix C – Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups". Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  47. ^ Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups (PDF) – via State Department of the United States of America.
  48. ^ a b Amarnath terrorist attack: Live updated by NDTV., NDTV, 11 July 2017.
  49. ^ a b c d "Amarnath yatra attack latest updates". Rediff. 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  50. ^ Terrorists attack bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, kill seven Amarnath pilgrims, Zee News, 11 July 2017.
  51. ^ Amarnath Yatra terror attack: Protests rock Jammu against killing of pilgrims, Financial Express, 11 July 2017.
  52. ^ Lashkar condemns attack on Amarnath pilgrims, calls it ‘reprehensible, unIslamic’
  53. ^ "LeT denies Amarnath attack charge; blames Indian intel".
  54. ^ "Amarnath Yatra Terror Attack: Abu Ismail, the Man Who Could be LeT Boss, in Crosshairs". News18.
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