Amarnath attack: CM Adityanath holds emergency security review meeting

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed the top cops to remain vigilant, especially in view of the ‘kanwar yatra’ that began on Tuesday vigilant, and ensure safety and security of pilgrims.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adiyanath late on Monday evening chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the state, in the wake of a terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kanwariyas in various parts of the country travel or walk to places such as Haridwar, Gomukh and Gangotri to take a dip, fetch water from the Ganga and offer it at Shiva temples back home. The annual pilgrimage will culminate on July 21. (HT file photo)

Terrorists killed seven Amarnath pilgrims from Gujarat, including six women, and wounded 32 others as they struck at a bus in Anantnag district on Monday, in the worst attack on the annual pilgrimage since the year 2000.

Adityanath convened the emergency meeting with the principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar, director general of police Sulkhan Singh and ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar to take stock of the situation across the state.

He directed them to remain vigilant, especially in view of the ‘kanwar yatra’ that began on Tuesday, and ensure safety and security of pilgrims participating in the month-long religious yatra.

The chief minister also offered condolences to the kin of the deceased Aamarnath pilgrims, in what he described as “cowardly and condemnable” attack.