Security lapse in Bharat Jodo Yatra: Cong

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday cancelled his walk as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra for the day after it entered Kashmir Valley, with the party alleging a security lapse and claiming police arrangements by the Union territory administration "completely collapsed".

Mr Gandhi, who began his yatra from Banihal in Jammu region, crossed the Jawahar Tunnel into the valley in Qazigund in a bulletproof vehicle. The yatra got a rousing reception on this side of the tunnel, but security forces found it difficult to control and manage the crowd of party supporters.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police rejected the Congress charge and said there was no security lapse at the Bharat Jodo Yatra and that the organisers had not informed the police about a large crowd joining the march from Banihal. "The Jammu and Kashmir Police was not consulted before the Bharat Jodo Yatra was discontinued. We will provide foolproof security (to the yatra)," said additional director general of p-olice Vijay Kumar, who is in charge of security in the Kashmir Valley