Calling Amarnath yatris “guests” a day before the annual pilgrimage begins, Hizbul Mujahideen on Tuesday said reports that militants were planning to target the yatra were baseless.
In an audio message, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo said yatris can perform the annual pilgrimage without the fear of attacks.
He said the statement of DGP S.P. Vaid that security cover for Amarnath Yatra has been strengthened because militants were planning to target it was baseless.
''We will never ever attack the yatris as they come to perform their religious rituals,” Naikoo said. '' We are fighting for the freedom of our nation and have no enmity with people of India.”
He said they (militants) were fighting against those who are committing atrocities in Kashmir and those who have forced them to pick up guns. ''We are fighting for our rights and freedom”.
Naikoo further said Kashmiri Pandits who have migrated from Kashmir can return, and added that he would offer his own land to one of the Pandits who wishes to return to Kashmir. He, however, warned that separate colonies for Kashmir Pandits were unacceptable and will be targeted.
Referring to outsiders working in Kashmir, he said Biharis are working everywhere in Kashmir. ''If people of Kashmir are terrorists, how come the Biharis return home unharmed?"
On the abduction and murder of soldier Aurangzeb, Naikoo said sometimes they die fighting the soldiers and at times the soldiers get killed.
He further said ransacking houses of militants and their orchards cannot dampen their morale and added that the plan to not hand over bodies of militants to their families doesn't bother them. The militant leader warned that slain security forces personnel (from Kashmir) will also not find a place in Kashmir for burial. ''They would have to be buried outside Kashmir.''