Seven Amarnath pilgrims, five of them women, were killed in a militant attack in Anantnag, the police said.
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 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.
NDTV reports that internet services have also been suspended in the Valley following the attack. The report adds that the bus, which was from Gujarat, was reportedly not part of the main yatra convoy and was not registered with the shrine board. The pilgrims were on their way back after visiting the Amarnath shrine. The main yatra convoy is escorted by the CRPF which has now rushed troops to the spot.
(With inputs from PTI)
(Feature image source: ANI)