(HT)
The Amarnath Yatra, the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva in Kashmir, began on Wednesday amid intelligent inputs that cautioned of militant attacks on pilgrims and security personnel. A spike in violence in the valley is already a cause of concern for the Jammu and Kashmir government and central security forces over the 40-day pilgrimage that passes through the volatile Anantnag district in south Kashmir. In 16 years, over 50 pilgrims have been killed in three terror strikes during the trek to the shrine tucked away at 12,750-ft altitude in the Pir Panjal mountains in the south Kashmir.
