Pilgrimage resumes, Central team visits Sheshnag

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JULY 22. The Amarnath pilgrimage, suspended for a day after 13 persons were killed near Sheshnag on Saturday, resumed today both from Jammu and Srinagar, according to an official spokesman.

Pilgrims started their journey amid tight security from Jammu while those stranded also headed for the cave shrine and some of them returned to Pahalgam. The spokesman said 1,171 devotees worshipped at the shrine today.

A Central team, led by the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr. I.D. Swami, visited Sheshnag and reviewed the situation with the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Mr. G.C. Saxena, and other senior officials.

Mr. Swami and the Special Secretary (Home), Mr. Ashok Bhandari, arrived here and later flew to Sheshnag and interacted with the pilgrims. Expressing shock over the incident, Mr. Swami assured the pilgrims that every step would be taken to ensure their safety. He later had a detailed meeting with Mr. Saxena, who is also the Amarnath Shrine Board chairman.

Mr. Saxena, who visited Sheshnag on Saturday gave a detailed account of the incident as also the measures taken to curb the militants.

Later they held a meeting with Principal Secretary (Home), Mr. C. Phonsog, and the DGP, Mr. A.K. Suri, and other officials where the latest situation in the area was reviewed.

Mr. Swami told the State officials that the Centre was very much concerned over the ugly turn of events and urged the State Government to ensure the pilgrims' safety.

The team is likely to submit the report to the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, in Delhi. Since the monsoon session of the Parliament begins tomorrow, the Centre was forced to send a team to Sheshnag.

The overall security situation was reviewed at a high- level meeting here on Saturday evening. Chaired by Mr. Saxena, it was attended by the GOC Northern Command, Lt. Gen. S.Nanawati, the Chief Secretary, Mr. Ashok Jaitly, the GOC 15 Corps, Lt.Gen. J.R.Mukherjee, the GOC 16 Corps, Lt.Gen. J.B.S.Yadava, Mr. C. Phonsog and the DGP, Mr. A.K.Suri.

The aftermath of the Agra summit, the threat by militant organisations to intensify their activities and the security measures to be taken were discussed, sources said.

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