Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits leave for Kheer Bhawani Mela in Kashmir amid tight security

Kasum Pandita, who is going to Mata Kheerbhawani in Manzgam, said that instead of being fearful they are enthusiastic about participating in the pilgrimage.

The Jammu region witnessed three terror attacks in as many days since Sunday.

Last Sunday, terrosrists fired at a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge in Reasi, killing nine and injuring 41.

In Doda district, five troopers of Rashtriya Rifles and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road.

In Kuthua terrorists attacked a village near the International Border on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian. During a subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed while efforts were being made to flush out the other holed-up terrorist who is believed to have infiltrated from across the border.

Early on Wednesday, a CRPF jawan was critically injured in a firing by a terrorist holed up in the village in Kathua around 3 a.m.

The annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, celebrated on Zeisht Ashtami, will be held on June 14 at the shrines of Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Tikker in Kupwara, Laktipora Aishmuqam in Anantnag, Mata Tripursundri Devsar in Kulgam, and Mata Kheerbhawani Manzgam also in Kulgam.

This year, an estimated 80,000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits from various parts of India and abroad are expected to visit the five renowned temples in the Valley during the annual fair. (TH)