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Amarnath Yatra Suspended Amid Security On Article 370 Anniversary
Every year, many people go on a special trip called the Amarnath Yatra to visit a holy cave shrine high up in the mountains.
One day this week, leaders in charge stopped letting new people begin the trip from the town of Jammu.
They did this because they were worried about keeping everyone safe.
That day was the anniversary of a big decision made in 2019, when the government changed the special rules for a place called Jammu and Kashmir.
Some people were unhappy about that decision and wanted to hold peaceful protests.
The government did not allow the protests and kept extra police nearby to maintain order.
People who were already on the northern route, at a place called Baltal, were still allowed to visit the holy cave.
More than 460,000 people have already visited the shrine this year.
The pilgrimage will finish at the end of August.
The annual Amarnath Yatra was suspended from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Wednesday as a precautionary security measure.
The suspension fell on the seventh anniversary of the August 5, 2019 abrogation of Article 370, when Jammu and Kashmir was split into two Union Territories.
No fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to leave Jammu for the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps, while yatris from Baltal could still move towards the cave shrine.
Movement of security convoys was also suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Political parties including the ruling National Conference, Congress and PDP observed a 'Black Day'; PDP's planned protests were denied permission and its leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, were confined.
- Who
- Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir suspended the yatra, while opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party, Congress and the ruling National Conference observed a 'Black Day'.
- What
- The annual Amarnath Yatra was suspended from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu, and security convoy movement was halted on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
- Where
- Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu, affecting routes to the Pahalgam (Anantnag) and Baltal (Ganderbal) base camps in Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, the seventh anniversary of the Centre's August 5, 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
- Why
- As a precautionary security measure due to the prevailing situation on the anniversary, when political parties had announced protests and a 'Black Day'.
Opposition parties and protesters
Government and security authorities
Commemorating August 5
Opposition parties and protesters
Opposition parties (PDP, Congress, National Conference) observe August 5 as a 'Black Day', demanding restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status and full statehood.
Government and security authorities
Authorities treat the day with heightened security and movement restrictions as a precautionary measure, without linking the suspension to the anniversary.
Protests and police response
Opposition parties and protesters
PDP announced district-wide peaceful protests and a 15-minute symbolic blackout, demanding restoration of special status and release of political prisoners.
Government and security authorities
Authorities denied permission for the protests citing law and order problems, deployed police and CRPF around PDP headquarters and sensitive areas, and confined senior PDP leaders including Mehbooba Mufti.
Scope of political demand
Opposition parties and protesters
PDP's demand includes reinstatement of Article 370 and Article 35A.
Government and security authorities
The ruling National Conference opposes this, limiting its demand strictly to statehood restoration.
Key facts
- Event
- Suspension of Amarnath Yatra from Jammu base camp
- Date
- Wednesday, August 5 — 7th anniversary of Article 370 abrogation
- Reason
- Precautionary security measure; no specific reason officially given
- Pilgrims this season
- More than 4.60 lakh (460,000)
- Shrine height
- 3,880 metres
- Pilgrimage period
- Started July 3; ends August 28 (Raksha Bandhan)
- Article 370 abrogated
- August 5, 2019; J&K reorganised into two Union Territories (J&K and Ladakh)
- Affected routes
- Jammu-Srinagar National Highway; Pahalgam and Baltal base camps
Sources
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