View source for 2001 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre

{{Short description|Amarnath pilgrimage massacre in 2001}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title      = 2001 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre
| image      = 
| caption    = 
| location   = [[Sheshnag Lake]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]
| target     = [[Kashmiri Hindus]]
| date       = 20 July 2001
| time       = 
| timezone   = 
| type       = [[Mass murder]]
| motive     = [[Islamist Terrorism]]
| fatalities = 
| injuries   = 
| perps      = 
}}
{{Violence against Hindus in independent India}}


On 20 July 2001, in the month of [[Shraavana]], 13 people were killed and 15 other injured in a terror attack on a pilgrim night camp at [[Sheshnag Lake]] near the [[Amarnath Temple]] glacial cave shrine in [[Kashmir Valley]] in the [[India]]n state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], in two explosions and firing by militants.<ref name=fp1>[http://www.firstpost.com/india/amarnath-yatra-devotees-have-faced-repeated-terror-attacks-heres-the-blood-soaked-history-of-pilgrimage-3799091.html "Amarnath Yatra devotees have faced repeated terror attacks: Here's the blood-soaked history of pilgrimage"], [[First Post]], 11 July 2017.</ref><ref name=oneind1>Vicky Nanjappa, [http://www.oneindia.com/india/amarnath-yatra-has-been-attacked-thrice-the-past-2491675.html Amarnath yatra has been attacked thrice in the past], [http://www.oneindia.com One India News]. 11 July 2017.</ref><ref name=shesh2>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010722/main1.htm 6 pilgrims among 13 killed in 2 blasts], [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]], 11 July 2017.</ref> In a pre-dawn attack, terrorists penetrated several layers of security cordon and exploded two [[improvised explosive devices]] (lEDs), casualties included 8 [[Hindu]] civilian pilgrims entailing 2 women, and 3 [[Muslim]] civilians and 2 security personnel.<ref name=data1>2001, [https://books.google.com/books?id=PwluAAAAMAAJ Kashmir], Data India, Issues 27-52, pp.650.]</ref>

==Background==

The 48-days July–August annual Hindu pilgrimage, undertaken by up to 600,000 or more pilgrims to {{convert|130|ft}} high glacial Amarnath cave shrine of [[stalagmite|iced stalagmite]] [[Lingam|Shiv linga]] e at {{convert|12,756|ft}} in [[Himalayas]], is called ''[[Amarnath Temple#Yatra (pilgrimage)|Amarnath Yatra]]''.<ref name=amarn1>[http://www.amarnathyatra.org/yatra.htm Amarnath Yatra explained], [http://www.amarnathyatra.org/yatra.htm Amarnath Yatra organisation].</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oneindiaonline.com/amarnath-yatra-tourism.php|title=Amarnath Yatra Tourism Information|website=www.oneindiaonline.com}}</ref><ref name=boston1>[http://archive.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/amarnath_journey_to_the_shrine.html Amarnath: Journey to the shrine of a Hindu god], [http://archive.boston.com Boston.Com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329172255/http://archive.boston.com/ |date=29 March 2016 }}, 13 July 20112.</ref> It begins with a {{convert|43|km}} mountainous trek from the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps at [[Pahalgam]] and reaches cave-shine after night halts at [[Sheshnag Lake]] and [[Panchtarni]] camps.<ref name=camps1>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Amarnath-yatra-ends-least-number-of-pilgrims-in-decade/article14576514.ece Amarnath yatra ends, fewest pilgrims in decade], [[The Hindu]], 18 August 2016.</ref> The yatra is both a way of earning revenue by the state government by imposing tax on pilgrims,<ref name=bjp1>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Remove-entry-fee-on-buses-to-Vaishno-Devi-Amarnath-BJP/articleshow/6064803.cms BJP demands removal of Amarnath yatra entry fee], [[Times of India]].</ref><ref name=oib1>[http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=65397 No Additional Tax Levied on Vehicles Going to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi], [http://pib.nic.in Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance of Government of India], 2010.</ref> and making living by the local [[Bakarwal|Shia Muslim Bakarwal-Gujjars]] by taking a portion of revenue and by offering services to the Hindu pilgrims, and this source of income has been threatened by the militant groups who have banned and attacked the yatra numerous times,<ref name=mus1>Carl W. Ernst, 2016, [https://books.google.com/books?id=AzzUDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT211&dq=muslim+earn+a+living+to+amarnath+pilgrims&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-__mWgIPVAhVKvY8KHQHuAbAQ6AEIMDAD#v=onepage&q=muslim%20earn%20a%20living%20to%20amarnath%20pilgrims&f=false Refractions of Islam in India: Situating Sufism and Yoga], [[SAGE Publications]], {{ISBN|9351509648}}.</ref><ref name=SufiShia>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Muslim-group-asks-for-reviving-Amarnath-Yatra/articleshow/53247175.cms Muslim group asks for reviving Amarnath Yatra], [[Times of India]], 17 July 2016.</ref><ref name=bakar>[http://www.orfonline.org/expert-speaks/kashmir-no-algorithm-for-azadi Expert Speak on Kashmir: No algorithm for Azadi], [http://www.orfonline.org Observer Research Foundation], August 2016.</ref><ref name=harkatban>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jul/09kash.htm |title=Rediff On The NeT: Harkatul Mujaheedin 'bans' Amarnath Yatra |work=Rediff.com |date=9 July 1998 |access-date=2013-04-15}}</ref><ref>[http://rajyasabha.gov.in/journals/178/26081996.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510211911/http://rajyasabha.gov.in/journals/178/26081996.htm |date=10 May 2015 }}</ref> as well as have [[wikt:massacre|massacred]] at least 30 and injured at least 60 people in [[2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre|Amarnath pilgrimage terrorist-attack massacre (2000)]] causing death of 21 unarmed Hindu pilgrims, 7 Muslim civilians and 3 security forces in a two hour long indiscriminate shoot out at [[Pahalgam]] town in [[Anantnag district]].<ref name=oneind1/> See also: [[2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre|Amarnath pilgrimage terrorist-attack massacre (2000)]]. This attack on Amarnath yatra was part of the larger [[2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre|1st and 2nd August 2000 Kashmir massacre]] in 5 separate coordinated terrorist attacks that killed at least 89 (official count) to 105 people (as reported by [[Press Trust of India|PTI]]), and injured at least 62 more.<ref name=tribjk1>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000803/main1.htm#1 "Night of massacres leaves 105 dead in valley"], [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]], 3 August 2000.</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Union [[Government of India]] released the additional funding and state [[Government of Jammu and Kashmir]] tightened the security.<ref name=data1/> Few weeks later [[Bin Laden]] launched [[September 11 attacks]] on [[United States of America|USA]] which forced the change in global response to the Islamic terror attacks from aloof and sporadic to united and coordinated.<ref name=USArep1>[http://indianexpress.com/article/research/911-anniversary-how-the-world-changed-in-15-years-3025632/ 9/11 anniversary: How the world changed in 15 years], [[Indian Express]], 11 September 2016.</ref> ''Pakistan-backed'' Islamic terrorist organizations,<ref>Sati Sahni, [http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jul/31hizb.htm 10,000 The birth of the Hizbul Mujahideen], Rediff News, July 2000</ref> [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]<ref name=Basset>{{cite book|last=Basset|first=Donna|title=Encyclopedia of Terrorism|year=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0313308956|page=12|editor=Peter Chalk}}</ref><ref name=cfrprofile>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/17882/ |title=Profile: Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure) (a.k.a. Lashkar e-Tayyiba, Lashkar e-Toiba; Lashkar-i-Taiba) |author=Jayshree Bajoria |date=14 January 2010 |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |access-date=11 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605151918/http://www.cfr.org/publication/17882/ |archive-date=5 June 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name=cronin>{{cite journal| first=Audrey| last=Kurth Cronin|author2=Huda Aden |author3=Adam Frost |author4=Benjamin Jones |title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations| publisher=Congressional Research Service| date=6 February 2004| url=https://fas.org/irp/crs/RL32223.pdf| access-date=4 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mumbai Terror Attacks Fast Facts|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/18/world/asia/mumbai-terror-attacks/|publisher=CNN}}</ref> founded by [[Hafiz Muhammad Saeed|Hafiz Saeed]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad |url=http://www.brookings.edu/events/2011/0118_pakistan_america.aspx |publisher=Brookings.edu |access-date=28 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127080018/http://www.brookings.edu/events/2011/0118_pakistan_america.aspx |archive-date=27 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad, transcript |url=http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/events/2011/0118_pakistan/20110118_deadly_embrace.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20111029182345/http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/events/2011/0118_pakistan/20110118_deadly_embrace.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2011 |publisher=Brookings.edu |access-date=28 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The 9/11 Attacks' Spiritual Father |url=http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2011/0911_riedel.aspx |publisher=Brookings.edu |access-date=28 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127015845/http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2011/0911_riedel.aspx |archive-date=27 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/02sld15.htm |title=The 15 faces of terror|work=Rediff.com|access-date=28 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="Stephen E. Atkins">{{cite book|last1=E. Atkins|first1=Stephen|title=Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups|date=2004|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0313324857|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofmo0000atki/page/173 173]|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofmo0000atki|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="tellis2010">{{cite news| title=Bad Company – Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and the Growing Ambition of Islamist Mujahidein in Pakistan| url=http://carnegieendowment.org/files/0311_testimony_tellis.pdf| date=11 March 2010| author=Ashley J. Tellis| publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace| quote=The group's earliest operations were focused on the Kunar and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan, where LeT had set up several training camps in support of the jihad against the Soviet occupation.}}</ref> and [[Hizbul Mujahideen]] were designated terrorist organisations by [[India]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=292|title=::Ministry of Home Affairs:: BANNED ORGANISATIONS|date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129051543/http://mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=292|archive-date=2013-01-29|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-05-15}}</ref> [[European Union]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32015D2430|title=COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2015/2430 of 21 December 2015|website=eur-lex.europa.eu|access-date=2017-05-15}}</ref> and [[United States]].<ref>{{cite news|title=US adds 4 Indian outfits to terror list|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/apr/30us1.htm|access-date=13 May 2015|publisher=Rediff|date=30 April 2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2002/html/19990.htm|title=L – Appendix A: Chronology of Significant Terrorist Incidents, 2002|access-date=2016-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2002/html/19992.htm|title=N – Appendix C: Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups|access-date=2016-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2003/31759.htm|title=Appendix C – Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups|access-date=2016-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/20120.pdf|title=Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups|via=State Department of the United States of America}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Islamic terrorism]]
* [[Kanwar Yatra]]
* [[2003 Nadimarg massacre]]
* [[Terrorist attack on Amarnath Yatra (2017)]]
* [[Amarnath land transfer controversy]]
* [[List of terrorist incidents in India]]
* [[List of Islamist terrorist attacks]]

{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com}}
* [http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/07/amarnath_journey_to_the_shrine.html Amarnath: Journey to the shrine of a Hindu god], ''[[Boston Globe]]'' news story in pictures, 13 July 2012.
* [http://www.kashmirherald.com/apr2003/jkmassacres.html Chronology of major killings of Hindus by Islamic terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, up to year 2003.]

{{Hindu Temples in Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Shiva temples}}
{{Shaivism}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{India topics}}

{{coord missing|Jammu and Kashmir}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=21st-century mass murder in India, Violence against Hindus in India, Islamic terrorism in India, Terrorist incidents in India in 2001, Massacres in 2001, Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir, July 2001 events in India
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[[Category:21st-century mass murder in India]]
[[Category:Violence against Hindus in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2001]]
[[Category:Massacres in 2001]]
[[Category:Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:July 2001 events in India]]
[[Category:Anti-Hindu violence in India]]