Heavy security for Kashmir pilgrims

Troops stand guard en route to the Amarnath cave

SRINIGAR, India (CNN) -- Security is heavy along the route of a religious pilgrimage in Indian-controlled Kashmir as devotees continue their journey, two days after suspected Islamic militants killed nine Hindus while they rested at a camp.

Carrying their religious gear, more pilgrims, or yatris, have begun the next stage of their holy journey, a 50-kilometer trek up steep mountain slopes to the cave shrine known as Amarnath, one of the five holiest sites for Hindus.

Despite a strong military and security presence, the scene is one of relative peace -- a dramatic contrast to the chaos after suspected Kashmiri militants threw grenades and opened fire on yatris at a camp located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Srinagar, near the international resort of Pahalgam, on Tuesday. Nine were killed and 30 injured.

The Indian government says militant group Al Mansuriya, a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba organization, was behind the strike.

Multiple attacks

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The attack was one of three in the disputed Himalayan region on Tuesday, leaving a total on 14 people dead, and comes ahead of local elections in Kashmir scheduled to begin next month.

Still, many devotees say they are not afraid.

"These attacks happen every year, says Rajesh Kumar. The terrorists are doing their job, and we are doing ours," says pilgrim Raj Kumar.

Last year, 13 pilgrims were murdered during the annual trip. In 2000, the figure was 35.

Security has been even further strengthened as the month-long pilgrimage reaches the halfway stage.

Officials say they will not let down their guard as tens of thousands more devotees are expected to make their way to Kashmir.

"Yatra will carry on the same way as it is carrying on until the yatra is over. Every day we are seeing that things have improved," P.S. Dhillon, from the Central Reserve Police Force, says.

Protests

In the Indian capital, New Delhi, anger against Pakistan spilled into the streets on Wednesday.

Protesters blame India's nuclear neighbor for being behind the attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Though Indian government officials say a Pakistan-based militant group was behind the latest attack, it stopped short of blaming the Islamabad government for this specific incident.

As protests continue over the surge in violence, the Indian government says it will not begin talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, until "terrorist infiltration" ends from across the disputed border.

New Delhi says Tuesday's bloodshed proves there can be no hope for peace until Islamabad takes more steps to prevent militant activity in the region. (Full story)

Islamabad condemned the latest attack, and dismissed with contempt India's claim that it supports terrorists.

An Indian External Affairs ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday the attacks justified India's continued vigilance in the region.

Some 500,000 Indian troops have massed along the border because of the ongoing violence in Kashmir which has brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

-- CNN Correspondent Ram Ramgopal contributed to this report.