The Jammu and Kashmir government today closed all educational institutions and suspended internet facility here to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the Amarnath terror attack.
"All educational institutions in Jammu district shall remain shut today (Tuesday) as a precautionary measure," a senior police official said.
Seven pilgrims (six women and a man) were killed and 19 others were injured on Monday when terrorists sprayed bullets at a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims in Ananatnag district. The incident had taken place in Khanabal area of Srinagar-Jammu highway, around 55 km from Srinagar. All slain pilgrims belonged to Gujarat.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Manoj Pandita said all the injured were stable. "Internet services have also been suspended in the district till further orders," the official said.
The National Conference (NC) has called for a Jammu Bandh on Tuesday to protest the attack on innocent pilgrims. NC provincial President Devender Rana said, "Nothing more unfortunate could have happened. It is a terror attack carried out by those who believe in no religion or humanity."
"The purpose of the attack is to whip up communal passions and that is what all of us have to guard against. We are deeply shocked by the attack and demand that those responsible be brought to justice. It must also be probed as to how the unguarded bus of 'yatris' was allowed to move on the highway that is heavily patrolled and protected," Rana added.
On the other hand, police blamed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attack. Kashmir police chief Munir Khan told reporters that there were credible inputs that the LeT outfit was responsible for the attack that also left 19 pilgrims injured.
The officer said that security for the ongoing pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine has been beefed up.
In New Delhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a security review meeting to look into possible security lapses that may have led to the attack. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, top Home Ministry, intelligence and paramilitary force officials attended the meeting to take stock of the situation in the border state.
With IANS Inputs
