Guest guest Posted September 12, 2004 Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 http://www.cnvi.us/dtdsp.php?date=31-08-2004&group=NW&sgroup=TS&seqno=3 India succesfully guards Hindu Pilgrimage to Kashmir from Islamic terrorists 31 Aug 2004, More than 300,000 Hindus have completed an annual pilgrimage in Kashmir without any reports of violence. The 45-day journey to the Amarnath shrine ended Monday, on the holiday of Raksha Bandhan - without incident for a second straight year. In previous years, Muslim rebels attacked and killed Hindu pilgrims. This year, at least 12,000 Indian soldiers guarded the Himalayan route. The pilgrims brave harsh terrain to reach a 4,000-meter-high cave, where they revere an ice stalagmite believed to represent Shiva. Pakistan has been funding the Kashmir an integral part of Indian Union. More than 60,000 people have been killed in bloody war waged by fanatics trained by pakistan . The Indian Govt under the Vajpayee leadership has extended unilateral friendship and held a series of talks aimed at ending hostilities. The 45-day long annual Amarnath pilgrimage concluded today with sadhus carrying the holy mace of Lord Shiva reaching the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas and offering prayers at the naturally formed ice lingam. The 'charri mubarak' (holy mace), carried by around 500 sadhus led by its custodian Mahant Deepinder Giri, reached the 3,880 metre high cave shrine, 143 km. from here, around 8.45 am. State Governor and Chariman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, S K Sinha, and Director General of Police Gopal Sharma, were present at the concluding prayers coinciding with 'shravana purnima' (Full Moon day of auspicious shravan month of the Hindu calendar) and Raksha Bandhan festival. A record number of over three-lakh pilgrims undertook the yatra this year which began on July 15. Unprecedented security arrangements had been made for the yatra with the BSF deployed on the two tracks leading to the shrine -- Pahalgam route and Baltal -- and police and CRPF on guard duty at the base camps and halting stations. The Army sanitised the areas close to the tracks. Expressing satisfaction at the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage, officials lauded the role of the security forces and the cooperation extended by the locals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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