Amarnath Yatra attack: Kashmiris protest in Srinagar; tour agents, hotels to stop work tomorrow

Srinagar: Members of civil society, trade and tour organisations on Tuesday staged demonstrations across Srinagar against the killing of seven Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag and sought an impartial probe into the terror attack. [caption id=“attachment_3801933” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Kashmiris protest against the militants attack on Amarnath Yatri bus in Srinagar on Tuesday. PTI[/caption] Representatives from the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), Centre for Research and Development Policy (CRDP) and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) assembled at Pratap Park near the city centre, Lal Chowk, to raise their voice against last night’s “barbaric” and “gruesome” killings. Khurram Parvez, coordinator of JKCSS, condemned the killings and sought an impartial probe by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) into the attack. He alleged that the country’s probe agencies have failed to establish the truth in such killings in the past. “Kashmiris have always condemned such killings. The UNHRC should be allowed to probe all mysterious killings that occurred in Kashmir, including at Nadimarg and Chhatisinghpora,” Khurram told reporters. The protest was joined by various trade and tourism organisations, journalists and separatists. Earlier, traders, tour operators, houseboat owners and hoteliers assembled in the press enclave holding placards demanding an “independent probe” into the “brutal killings” and condemning the “barbaric attack”. Travel agencies, hotels and allied agencies will suspend their business on Wednesday as a mark of protest and out of respect for the pilgrims. “Since we heard this bad news, we stand united with them (Amarnath yatris). Those who died and suffered injuries, we went to see them,” the protestors said. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) also took out a rally from their office near Polo View in Srinagar and condemned the attack. The KCCI demanded a judicial probe by a retired Supreme Court judge. KCCI member Ibrahim Shadad told reporters, “It is a very sad occasion for us. We have always welcomed pilgrims. We Kashmiris have always cooperated with them and will continue to.” Meanwhile, a human rights group on Tuesday filed a petition in the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), demanding an investigation into Monday’s attack on the pilgrims. “We have filed a petition before SHRC demanding it to investigate the attack on the Amarnath pilgrims,” chairman of International Forum for Justice and Protection for Human Rights Mohammad Ahsan Antoo told PTI. However, the SHRC is yet to admit his petition.