Tourists and pilgrims on Amarnath Yatra have been asked to "immediately" cut short their stay (File)
Tourists and pilgrims on the Amarnath Yatra have been asked by the Jammu and Kashmir government to "immediately" cut short their stay in the Kashmir Valley and return. Pilgrims and tourists have never before been urged to leave Kashmir, which has seen a massive build-up of troops in the past week.
The order follows confirmed intelligence reports from the Indian Army that terrorists backed by Pakistan as well as its army were trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra.
The army said they had found a landmine with Pakistan ordnance factory markings and an M-24 American sniper rifle with telescopic sight.
A senior army official said the Amarnath Yatra route was being "sanitised for three days". "In the last three-four days, there were confirmed intelligence reports that terrorists backed by Pakistan and its army is trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra and based on that a thorough search was conducted. We had major successes in these searches," said Chinar Corps Commander Lt General KJS Dhillon.
The Army and police held a joint press conference against the backdrop of reports of an increased presence of troops in Jammu and Kashmir.
The announcement asking pilgrims and tourists to leave Jammu and Kashmir has led to people queuing up to buy essentials, with long lines reported at fuel stations, medical shops and ATMs.
Jammu and Kashmir's former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah both hit out over the handling of the security threat.
While National Conference leader Omar Abdullah claimed people staying in hotels in Gulmarg were being forced to leave hours after the Jammu and Kashmir government issued the advisory, Mehbooba Mufti said there was "complete chaos in the streets" of capital Srinagar.
Here are the Updates over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir:
Air India, Vistara, Indigo airlines have all waived cancellation fee on flights to and from Jammu and Kashmir
Mehbooba Mufti will meet National Conference's Farooq Abdullah
After addressing a press conference amid the security threat in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti will meet Farooq Abdullah.
"Where will people go from Jammu, from Kashmir, from Ladakh," said Mehbooba Mufti, over the security threat cited in Jammu and Kashmir
"Where will people go from Jammu, from Kashmir, from Ladakh," asked Mehbooba Mufti. "It seems like the centre thinks J&K is a "territorial issue". It is already your territory," she added.
A security threat cited by the Jammu and Kashmir government asked pilgrims and tourists to "immediately" return from the Amarnath Yatra and also to leave the Kashmir Valley.
"An attempt to end the constitutional guarantees provided to Kashmir": Mehbooba Mufti
"It seems there is an attempt to end the constitutional guarantees provided to Kashmir," says Mehbooba Mufti.
"In 1947, people of Kashmir shook hands with India thinking that there identity will be protected," says Mehbooba Mufti.
"Goverment says nothing will happen, but on the other hand, they have made additional deployment," says Mehbooba Mufti
"Government says nothing will happen, but on the other hand, they have made additional deployment (of Indian army troops)," says Mehbooba Mufti, addressing a press conference.
"Complete chaos on streets of Srinagar": Mehbooba Mufti tweets after security threat in Jammu and Kashmir
"Easy to accuse us of spreading fear": Omar Abdullah tweets amid security threat in Jammu And Kashmir
Mehbooba Mufti to hold a press conference soon
Mehbooba Mufti is going to hold a press conference after an advisory asks tourists, pilgrims to leave the Kashmir Valley, citing security threats.
PDP spokesperson Syed Suhail Bukhari tweeted saying Ms Mufti will soon address "an emergency press conference".
Mehbooba Mufti tweets after advisory issued asking tourists, pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra to leave Kashmir Valley, citing security threats