Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik met a delegation of political leaders including Mehbooba Mufti, Shah Faesal, Sajjad Lone and Imran Ansari here, according to an official spokesman.
The delegation expressed concerns about the panic situation in Kashmir including the huge deployment of forces and advisory issued by the government asking Amarnath Yatris and tourists to return as soon as possible.
Governor Malik, according to the spokesman, informed the delegation that there were serious and credible inputs which were available to the security agencies regarding militant attacks on the Amarnath Yatra.
“It is in this context that the government had issued an advisory asking Yatris and tourists to return as soon as possible. These are a vulnerable group of people who do not know the area and are extremely vulnerable to a terrorist or a fidayeen attack. It is the responsibility of the state to provide security to all its citizens. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, Yatris and tourists have been asked to return. This is to ensure that no terrorist attack takes place on them,” the Governor said and added that “unnecessary panic is being created by linking this to all kinds of other issues.
A pure security measure is being mixed up with issues with which it has no connection. That is the cause of the panic.”
The Governor requested the political leaders to ask their supporters not to mix up matters, to maintain calm and not believe exaggerated rumours being circulated all around.
Meanwhile, the 43-day-long ‘Machail Mata Yatra’ in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir was suspended on today due to security reasons, officials said. Authorities have asked people not to start the yatra and those on the way should leave and get back.
“The yatra has been suspended with immediate effect due to security reasons,” Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana told PTI. The yatra commenced on 25 July and was scheduled to end on 5 September.