 "Terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims 'blot on Kashmiris', says Mehbooba Mufti")
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and said that the incident has left Kashmiris' heads hanging in shame.
"The incident has left Kashmiris' heads hanging in shame.The attack is a blot on the name of Muslims and the people of Kashmir," said Mehbooba.
"I have no words to condemn this. I hope those involved will be arrested and punished soon," she added.
Meanwhile, state Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said the guilty would not be spared.
"We will treat terrorists as terrorists. Those who attack innocent people will not be spared," said Singh.
Further confirming the number of casualties, Singh said, "Seven people have lost their lives and 15 others are injured. The injured are reported to be out of danger."
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Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the terrorist attack and said that India would never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks.
"Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone," he tweeted.
The incident was also condemned by other political leaders including Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Digvijaya Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and others.
At least seven people were killed and 15 others injured after terrorists opened fire at bus ferrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Batingoo near Anantnag district.
This particular group of pilgrims was travelling on their own and the bus with number plate GJ09Z9976 was not even registered.
The injured pilgrims were rushed to a hospital in Anantnag where Chief Minister Mehbooba also reached to meet them.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir's Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba and has assured all possible assistance.
It is reported that the intelligence agencies had warned that militants were planning to target Amarnath pilgrims to trigger communal violence.
Earlier in August 2000, 30 people were killed in terrorist attack on the Amarnath pilgrimage in Pahalgam.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)