SRINAGAR: The Monday night attack that left seven Amaranth yatris dead and nineteen others injured has evoked outpouring of condemnation as well as questions on how the unregistered pilgrims paid the obeisance at the Himalayan cave shrine, how they were escorted by government forces en route and why the bus carrying them was allowed to move in violation of the standard operating procedure.
I CONDEMN remained social media profile pictures of the most netizens, echoing the reaction of people across the political spectrum, including the recently formed Joint Resistance Leadership group of separatist leaders: The attack on the centuries-old pilgrimage is against Kashmiri ethos and tradition.
Shame Shame Shame, wrote a youth on social media, condemning the killing. Its inhuman and barbaric. This is an act of cowardice, a terrorist attack. May good sense prevail, wrote Ubaid Shafi, another netizen.
Every single Kashmiri organisation, including those seen as Islamist and using violence for resistance (such as LeT), have condemned killings of Hindu pilgrims. Most people who helped the pilgrims are Kashmiri Muslim; the driver who through his presence of mind saved more lives is a Muslim.
But are those Indians who are baying for blood [of Kashmiri Muslims] in revenge even listening or noticing? asked Dibyesh Anand, Professor at Westminster University, UK.
Tariq Jameel, a Cybercitizen reacted sharply to Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis statement calling the attack as a “blot on all Muslims and Kashmiris”.
She seems to have watched a lot of Tarek Fatah videos lately. In an environment, when both, Muslims and Kashmiris are being targeted for their identity, this bloody vilification is the last thing we need, wrote Jameel.
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Journalist Gowhar Geelani likened the attack to killings and wounding of people in Valley during last years unrest triggered by the death of Hizb commander Burhan Wani.
Those who have not said or written a word against 120 civilian killings, 2000 pelleted eyes, torture of teenagers,16000 injuries and nearly 8000 arrests automatically lose all the moral right to be preachy. Period.
Charted Accountant and columnist, Abdul Majid Zargar, drew focus on need for having an independent investigation to bring facts to fore.
1. That 14th legislative elections in Gujarat are to be held soon.
2. That Amit Shah, President of BJP has already sounded the election beguile with communal overtones galore in the campaign by raising the 2002 derogatory anti-Muslim rants like Aliya, Maliya & Jamaliya. His aim is only to polarize the communities to reap electoral dividends
3. That a bus carrying Shri Amarnath Yatris, all hailing from Gujarat, was attacked in South Kashmir in which seven Yatris have been killed & many others injured.
4. That in contravention of the rules & regulations, all the Yatris in the bus were unregistered which was plying outside the security set-up for the Yatra and even travelling beyond 7.00 PM deadline prescribed for such travel.
5. It is strange that this 56 seater bus carrying as many unregistered Yatris was allowed to proceed without any check or questioning. In a security bandobust, when even needles are checked, how was a log overlooked?
6. That recently, Kashmir police has caught hold of a Hindu boy, by the name of Sandeep Kumarin the same area. He is being passed as an accomplice of Bashir Lashkari, a militant, who was killed in an operation with security forces. Strangely Sandeep was caught alive when all other militants were killed.
7. That according to police version, the bus was caught in a cross fire. Incidentally but strangely no security personnel or any militant has been killed or injured.
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Are all these instances coincidences? Only an independent investigation will reveal facts which is possible only, if the present Govt. is dismissed. Let another mass murder not go Chittisinghpora or Wandhama way.
Baba Umar, another journalist and facebook buff, questioned: Was it an attack on pilgrims or the soldiers? And who benefits from it? Use brains. Go back to the history as well.
Abhishek Saha, Srinagar correspondent of the Hindustan Times, posed five questions that remain unanswered as the attack lapsed towards history by a day.
Was the bus registered with the Amarnath shrine board? If not, why? it said, asking how was the bus, which had a Gujarat number plate (GJ09Z 9976), allowed to ply?
How did the bus manage to go through multiple security check points despite no registration? reads the second question.
The bus left the Baltal base camp, where security is tight, and moved on the heavily guarded national highway, apparently not being checked even once, it said.
Saha also called into question as why was the bus allowed to travel after sunset, a violation of standard operating procedure?
Related Story- Civil society groups protest against killing of Amarnath pilgrims
In the penultimate query, HT correspondent asked why was a police patrol vehicle travelling ahead of the unregistered pilgrim bus?
Lastly, it said, why did the police fail to secure the route despite intelligence warnings about possible (militant) attacks?
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