Despite terrorist threat and various hurdles created by the local administration, 9,000 pilgrims from across the country participated in the Budha Amarnach yatra, which concluded on August 7. According to Shri Prakash Sharma, convernor of Bajrang Dal, which conducted the yatra, about 400 to 500 people participated in the yatra every day. The yatra had begun on July 27. He said more than 2000 local people also participated in the yatra. Earlier the local people used to abstain from it due to threat from terrorists and non-cooperation of the local administration. The initiative taken by the Bajrang Dal to re-start the yatra has encouraged them in this regard. Though the administration had made arrangement to accommodate 500 people per day, the number of pilgrims reached to over 1500 on the last day and the administration had to allow the pilgrims to stay in those places, which it was not allowing earlier. According to Shri Sharma, the pilgrims were extended warm welcome in Sunderbani, Rajauri and Poonch by local people, BSF jawans and the army. (FOC)
