3,000 leave for Kheer Bhawani temple under security cover

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 18

Hours after New Delhi called off the Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of displaced Pandits began their journey to the revered shrine of Mata Kheer Bhawani at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district of Kashmir.

Escorted by police and paramilitary forces, nearly 3,000 pilgrims left in the convoy of 70 vehicles from Jammu, where lakhs of Pandits took refuge in 1990s after their exodus from their homeland. They will be joined by thousands of others who refused to take security cover and will travel in their own private vehicles.

The annual pilgrimage was flagged off by Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Javaid Mustafa Mir and Relief Commissioner (Migrants) ML Raina at Nagrota.

The yatra will cover nearly 300 km to reach Tulmulla where religious festivities will be observed on June 20 on Jyeshta Ashtami. Pilgrims are also visiting other shrines, especially in volatile districts of south Kashmir.

“The situation in Kashmir is quite tense but we have complete faith in the goddess and our security forces. It is a journey of faith for thousands of Pandits who are living as refugees in their own country,” said SL Pandita, president, Jagti Tenement Committee.

“Security is the primary concern and I hope pilgrims will complete the yatra peacefully. We have made every arrangement to help people perform their religious rituals in the Valley,” said Javaid Mustafa Mir.

A senior police official said a stretch of the national highway passing through Qazigund, Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama falls in volatile areas of south Kashmir, notorious for stone throwers and routine attacks by militants on security forces. Last year, terrorists killed seven Amarnath pilgrims near Anantnag. In the 2016 unrest, stone throwers attacked Kheer Bhawani-bound pilgrims, injuring several of them.

“Pilgrims will be provided every help during their stay. Arrangements have been made to ensure every facility is provided to people. Security forces and police are also in regular contact with us,” said Relief Commissioner ML Raina.

Though management of this holy shrine is in the hands of Dharmarth Trust, established by the erstwhile Dogra rulers, successive governments are actively helping in making arrangements for Hindu pilgrims who mostly live outside the Valley as displaced people.