Anantnag attack: India will never be bogged down by evil designs of hate, says PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir and asserted that India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks and evil designs of hate. He said he spoke to Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured all possible assistance required. At least seven pilgrims were killed and a number of others injured in the terror attack in Anantnag district of south Kashmir tonight. "Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone," Modi tweeted. "My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the attack in J&K. My prayers with the injured," he added. In yet another tweet, the prime minister said, "India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate." At 8.20 pm on Monday, the militants attacked an armoured car of the police, an official said. When the police fired back, the militants fled, firing indiscriminately, the official added. A bus carrying yatris was on the highway when the incident occurred. "In the firing by militants, seven people, five of them women, were killed, and another seven injured," the official said. The bus had come from Sonamarg. The pilgrims were on their way back after visiting the Amarnath shrine. The police claimed the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on a highway after 7 pm.