Like Amarnath Yatra, J&K suspends Machail Mata Yatra citing security reasons

Srinagar, August 3: With the Jammu and Kashmir State Department issuing advisory for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to leave immediately, the state dept also has called off the 43-days-long 'Machail Mata Yatra' in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir was suspended on Saturday due to security reasons.

 

The state authorities have asked people not to start the yatra and those on the way should leave and get back. The Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana informed that the yatra has been suspended with immediate effect due to security reasons. The yatra commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5.

Thousands of devotees from across the country visit the scenic Paddar valley, also famous for its sapphire mines, during the yatra and pay obeisance at the holy shrine of goddess Durga in Machail village of Kishtwar after trekking a 30-km arduous route.

Kishtwar, which was declared terrorism-free over a decade ago, was rattled by the killing of state secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar on November 1 last year, followed by assassination of senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard inside a health centre on April 9.

The annual Amarnath Yatra has already been suspended due to security reasons. Additional troops have been deployed in the areas and also the security forces were informed by the intelligence team that terror groups backed by Pakistan were hovering in some areas.

Vigilant and alert, the security forces have gun down three terrorists from Baramullah and Shopian district. Arms and ammunitions have also been recovered from the area.