Jammu, June 29, 2013: VHP today accused Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board of failing to make devotees aware about the yatra regulations.

"It was rude and inhuman to push back a large number of yatris without allowing them to pay obeisance to lord Shiva," VHP state president Ramakant Dubey told reporters here.

Around 12,000 yatris proceeding to Amarnath shrine were turned back from Pahalgam and Kangan yesterday for not carrying registration permits or carrying permits for a later date.

Dubey said, "Such a large number of yatris cannot reach the entry gates of Baltal and Nunwan without the knowledge of administration...The incident shows mismanagement of SASB and administration in educating public about the yatra regulations through mass media."

"SASB and the state administration spend lakhs of rupees on publicity to attract tourists but they proved a total failure in educating the Amarnath Yatris," he said.

For the first time, the access control agencies are carrying out thorough checks of Amarnath pilgrims and their documentation before allowing them to proceed.

Source: Outlook India, DT, June 29, 2013.