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Journalism of Courage
Contradicting Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde,Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said there was no increased threat to the upcoming Amarnath yatra,and blamed the confusion within intelligence agencies for such reports.
Shinde had on Wednesday told reporters that there was a terror threat to the yatra and that his ministry was making all efforts to ensure the security of all pilgrims who decide to take the trek to the shrine.
Abdullah put out a number of messages on Twitter on Thursday,saying he was not aware of any such threat. So while we will take all the regular precautions with a multi-layer security grid,yatra attack feared headlines are gross exaggeration, he said.
He said that no one at the United Headquarters meeting on Wednesday had briefed him about an increased threat perception. In fact,I asked a pointed question about whether the threats this year were higher than previous years and the answer was a categorical no, Abdullah said.
Shinde has not been alone in talking about a terror threat to Amarnath yatra. The state Home department had recently issued a circular to all security agencies talking about a possibility of the yatra being the target of terrorist attacks,though it did not say whether the threat this year was greater than previous years.
Considering the security scenario,topography of the yatra area,high potential of terrorist attacks on the yatris to create law and order situation throughout the state,sensitive nature of the yatra,and the high publicity the yatra generates,the entire yatra area is highly prone to terrorist attacks, the Home Department circular said.
The Army had on Monday said that it too had received inputs that terrorists might try to disrupt the yatra.
