JAMMU, INDIA, July 19, 2002: Amidst reports that splinter groups of Pakistan-based militant outfits were planning to sabotage the Amarnath yatra, the first batch of Amarnath-bound pilgrims left under tight security for Nunwan near Pahalgam, base camp to the holy cave shrine. The batch, comprising 2,681 pilgrims will offer prayers inside the holy cave at a height of 3,952 meters in south Kashmir on July 22. Security agencies brought up the rear, head and even the middle portion of the 131-vehicle convoy. Hours before the yatra was officially flagged off, security forces arrested three militants of the Hizb-e-Islami and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. Speaking about the unprecedented arrangements, IGP Jammu zone, P.L. Gupta, said security was tighter than previous years because of reports that splinter militant groups would target the yatra.
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