Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 11: Governor N.N. Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), convened an emergency Yatra Security Review Meeting today after the terror attack on a bus carrying Shri Amarnathji pilgrims near Khanabal last night. The meeting was attended by the senior most Civil, Police, Central Armed Forces Police, Army, State and Central Intelligence Agencies.
After a detailed discussion on what had gone wrong with the approach and procedures agreed to in the Yatra Security Review Meetings held on 15th May and 22nd June, Governor directed the heads of all the Security Forces to most critically review and ensure strict enforcement of extant Yatra Security arrangements and see that there was no let up whatsoever. He also advised the Security Forces Chiefs to maintain heightened surveillance and close co-ordination during the remaining period of the Yatra.
The meeting was attended by B. B. Vyas, Chief Secretary; Dr. S.P. Vaid, Director General of Police; Lt. Gen. J.S. Sandhu GOC, 15 Corps; Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, DG CRPF; Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; R.K Goyal, Principal Secretary Home; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister; Baseer Ahmed Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; A. G. Mir, Inspector General of Police CID, J&K; Muneer Ahmed Khan, IGP Kashmir; S.N. Srivastava, Special DG CRPF; Zulifiqar Hasan, Inspector General CRPF (Ops), Kashmir; Ravi Deep Singh Sahi, Inspector General CRPF, Srinagar Sector; Sonali Mishra, Inspector General BSF, Kashmir; and Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Amarnathji Shrine Board.
Earlier, Governor reviewed the conduct of the Amarnathji Yatra. Umang Narula, CEO, SASB informed that 4836 Yatris on the Baltal Route and 5776 Yatris on the Pahalgam Route had commenced their pilgrimage today and 3289 pilgrims had left Jammu early today for Baltal and Pahalgam Yatra Base Camps.
Governor also met the Yatris injured in a terrorist attack on their bus near Khanabal, in Anantnag district. He spoke to the injured Yatris and inquired about the medical treatment given to them for their injuries.
Governor expressed his deep grief over this unfortunate incident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families of those killed in the incident. On behalf of the Shrine Board he announced relief of Rs. 5:00 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the incident; Rs.1:50 lakh to those who had suffered grievous injuries and Rs. 75,000 for Yatris with minor injuries. He also paid his last respects to the deceased pilgrims and placed wreaths on their mortal remains.
Governor announced a special reward of Rs.2.00 lakh to the driver of the bus, Sheikh Saleem Gafoor, resident of Valsad, Gujarat, whose alert responses saved the lives of many pilgrims because he kept the vehicle moving even when he was under heavy fire from the front and the wind-screen had been shattered.
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