The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on July 11.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) denounces the dastardly attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag district in Jammu & Kashmir. Seven people, mostly women, were killed and 19 injured in a terrorist attack while returning from the pilgrimage.

The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and its sympathies for all those injured.

The people of Kashmir have always viewed the Amarnath shrine as part of its syncretic heritage. The attack on the pilgrims signifies the rise of religious extremism within the ranks of the militants.

One of the aims of this attack is to deepen the communal divide. It is important that this provocation does not succeed. This can be accomplished by ensuring that peace and communal harmony prevail in Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of the country.