Amarnath yatra pilgrims held back at Baltal

Security personnel in Kashmir have held back many pilgrims of the annual Amarnath Yatra, who arrived here ahead of the formal opening of the pilgrimage to the cave shrine.

Baltal (J-K), June 24 : Security personnel in Kashmir have held back many pilgrims of the annual Amarnath Yatra, who arrived here ahead of the formal opening of the pilgrimage to the cave shrine.

Scores of pilgrims have assembled at Baltal region to undertake Amarnath pilgrimage that begins on June 30.

Disappointed pilgrims alleged some rich devotees were being allowed to visit the shrine.

Honey, a devotee, said: "Some pilgrims are being allowed to go, while others are being stopped. The devotees who can afford to go on a chopper are being allowed. There should be equality in place of god".

Amit Kalra, another devotee, said: "Those who can afford airfare or who have influential connections are able to undertake the pilgrimage. But people who have come from far away places are being stopped. If the pilgrimage is starting officially on June 30 then nobody should be allowed to go now".

Officials said security arrangements were not foolproof yet to allow the pilgrimage.

Praveen Kumar, a security official, said: "The pilgrimage has not started officially. Devotees are pouring in despite our telling them not to come before June 30. Security forces are deployed along the route, but they are right now busy with their drill".

Amarnath pilgrimage that begins from June 30 will continue till August end. Devotees in batches of 5,000 would be allowed to visit the shrine daily.

Thousands from across the country embark on the two-month long arduous trek to the sacred Amarnath cave.

ANI