Indian security forces mistreating and harassing Hindu Amarnath pilgrims
Media Release
Jun. 18, 2006

It is not only inclement weather that has created impediments in Amarnath Yatra but it is the alleged harassment at the hands of security forces that has compelled some of the Yatris to return to their homes without having any darshan of the holy shrine. Today, around 1000 Yatris protested against the management accusing them of misleading the Yatris. "Since today morning they have announced ten times that Yatra has been restarted and when we lined up here our 14 people among a group of 56 were allowed to proceed towards the holy shrine and we were directed to return. Now we have lost the contact with our family members else we could have returned home without having any Darshan here. The security forces are troubling us unnecessarily and this harassment and humiliations is intolerable," wailed Himant Patel a resident of Pasoliu village - Surat Gujrat. Besides these allegations most of the Yatris believe that the security forces are doing the same for minting money from Yatris. "The checking is a mere eyewash. It is actually money minting exercise. We are in a fix. In morning they announce that Yatra has restarted and Yatris are allowed to proceed. But later they tell us that Yatra has been stopped. Above all, this is a cumbersome process as they waste our precious time. We are not against it but frisking of one vehicle takes at least 15 minutes. And you can imagine around 250 vehicles are in queue waiting for their turn," said a Yatri Mukesh Nayar a resident of Amritsar. He added that only 15 to 30 vehicles could make it. Rest of the vehicles are directed to return to the base camp. "In one hour you can not expect 150 to 250 vehicles to pass after thorough checking. Today when we protested against it, the special task force personnel beat us mercilessly. They have different excuses to narrate," said Nayar. Another Yatri K U Patel who is from Baroda-Gujrat is furious over the present government saying that the arrangements are negligible. "Some families have lost their contact with their members as some among them have been allowed to proceed for Darshan and some have been stopped by the security forces. Some of the Yatris were discussing about their return without having any Darshan of Amarnath shrine," he added. Patel observed that he would return to his home with a bad impression of the arrangements of the government of Jammu and Kashmir. "I will tell the people in Baroda that not to visit for any Darshan in Kashmir. As there are security forces checking and frisking Yatris again and again. Besides, there are no arrangements in Pahalgam and Baltal. Above all the security forces do not allow most of the Yatris to proceed for Darshan. They simply create hurdles in Yatra," observed Patel. Arvind Mishra a resident of Ahmedabad is aghast over the lack of adequate arrangements. "The weather is ok but the security forces do not allow us saying that weather condition is bad. If that is the condition then why do not they announce it earlier. In morning they tell us Yatra has resumed and when we wait for hours together we are being asked to return. Besides, there are no arrangements in Base Camp," said Mishra. "Instead of Rs 500 hotel owners charge us more than Rs 1500. We are fed up over these so called arrangement," said another Yatri pleading anonymity. When contacted spokesman of Shrine board Madan Mantoo said that board has made adequate arrangements for the Yatris and there is no such problem. "After heavy rains and snowfall at various places along the track to holy shrine of Amarnath, a fresh batch of 5317 Yatris were allowed to proceed for Darshan from Baltal today. Pehalgam route Yatra also started at 11:45 but we have no figures so far. There are adequate arrangements made by the shrine board. We are expecting almost 5 lakhs Yatris this year," said Mantoo. Dr Arun Kumar Chief Executive Officer Shri Amaranth Shrine Board, when contacted said, "We have made adequate arrangements for Yatris. And as far as the hotel rates are concerned it is upto tourism department. About unnecessary harassment I will talk to divisional commissioner as well ass to deputy commissioner. Actually Yatris must be getting impatient."

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