J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Amarnath Yatra reaches final phase
SRINAGAR, Aug 12 — Pilgrims began their yatra with ‘Chhari Mubarak” or the holy mace of Lord Shiva led by Mahant Depeendra Giri from Pahalgam to Chandanwari this afternoon. The last batch of 206 pilgrims in eight vehicles arrived in Pahalgam from Jammu today, while over 1500 left Chandanwari on their trek to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath.

Scribes take out procession
JAMMU, Aug 12 — Journalists and editors of local newspapers took out a procession in the city today to express concern over the growing threat to the men of the fourth estate in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of the escalation in militancy related violence.

Amarnath Yatra reaches final phase
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 12 — Pilgrims began their yatra with ‘Chhari Mubarak” or the holy mace of Lord Shiva led by Mahant Depeendra Giri from Pahalgam to Chandanwari this afternoon. The last batch of 206 pilgrims in eight vehicles arrived in Pahalgam from Jammu today, while over 1500 left Chandanwari on their trek to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath.

The “Chhari Mubarak” or the holy mace was held by Mahant Depeendra Giri from Pahalgam to Chandanwari in the first leg of the yatra. A number of sadhus participated in the traditional puja on the occasion. Food and Supplies Minister Ajay Sadhotra was also present. The pilgrims left Pahalgam, the base camp for Amarnath, at 12 noon.

With this the Amarnath Yatra has entered its concluding phase. Over 300 more pilgrims, including 206 who arrived in Pahalgam today, will be allowed to proceed from Pahalgam tomorrow. A record 1.80 lakh pilgrims participated in the yatra this year. Last year 1.49 lakh pilgrims had performed the yatra.

There has been a decline in the arrival of yatris following the firing incident at Pahalgam on August 1 in which at least 32 persons, including 22 yatris were killed. The number was expected to cross the two lakh mark this year, but for the incident.

Scribes take out procession
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 12 — Journalists and editors of local newspapers took out a procession in the city today to express concern over the growing threat to the men of the fourth estate in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of the escalation in militancy related violence.

Journalists marched from the Press Club to the Divisional Commissioner’s office where a memorandum was submitted. The newspersons expressed concern over the growing threat to journalists in the state.

The peace march was organised by the journalists following the death of one press photographer, Pradeep Bhatia, in a bomb explosion in Srinagar on Thursday in which several newsmen and cameramen were wounded.

Before the start of the march journalists paid rich tributes to those of their colleagues who had lost their lives and those who had suffered during the past 11 years’ of militancy. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of the demise of Pradeep Bhatia.

The processionists condemned the attack, direct or indirect, on newsmen and said it was a threat to the freedom of the Press. Journalists wanted the government to take suitable measures to ensure safety of all working journalists and appealed to those who had taken to the gun not to undermine the importance of the freedom of the Press.