Jammu, July 22: Swami Chinmayanand, MoS Home, is in Katra to get a detailed report of the terrorist attacks on Vaishno Devi pilgrims last night. At least eight persons were killed and 42 injured in the powerful explosions triggered by suspected militants at Banganga, 2 km from Katra. The Centre has also sought a detailed report from the Jammu and Kashmir government on the incidents, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani told the BJP parliamentary party meeting here.
Advani said security in the state would be further strengthened to ensure such incidents do not recur and that all steps were being taken in this regard, party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters.
The explosions occurred within a span of 10 minutes on Monday night at a community kitchen as thousands of people were making the steep climb to the mountain-top temple. Immediately after the blasts pilgrims were stopped from going to the shrine and the entire route was searched for more bombs.
However, later in the night the yatra resumed.
Since a large number of devotees on their way to and return from the temple take food at the community kitchen, officials fear the casualty figure may go up.
"This is the work of militants," Inspector-General P L Gupta, the head of police forces in the Jammu region, said.
Swami Chinmayanand blamed Pakistan for the blasts.
"It has become a tradition that whenever relations are improving between India and Pakistan, things like this take place," Chinmayanand told a private TV channel.
"This has been done to wreck religious harmony between Hindus and Muslims," he said. Security has been tightened in the area recently after police said there were intelligence reports that militants could target the shrine, 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast of Jammu, winter capital of Jammu-Kashmir.
There are similar reports that militants might be waiting to create trouble during the Amarnath Yatra too.
The blast came hours after Pakistani pro-Taliban leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman discussed peace with Indian leaders. The Maulana is known for his support to Islamic fundamentalists and militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
Millions of Hindu devotees from across the world come to the town of Katra each month to make the 13-kilometer climb through narrow winding roads to worship Mata Vaishno Devi. Bureau Report