Government has sounded a high alert to security agencies protecting pilgrims during the two-month-long Amarnath Yatra following intelligence inputs that militants based in Pakistan are planning to target them.
Highly placed officials said that intelligence agencies have intercepted several conversations between militants operating in Kashmir valley and across the border which suggested that they were planning attacks on the pilgrims taking part in the Yatra.
"As the attention of the security forces is concentrated on the prevailing unrest in the valley, the militants may try to take advantage of the situation. Therefore, we have asked everyone to be on high alert," an official said.
The Central government has provided around 8,500 paramilitary force personnel — 2,200 more than last year — to ensure foolproof security during the Yatra.