Credit: ANISrinagar: Seven Amarnath pilgrims from Gujarat, six of them women, were killed and 32 injured in a terrorist attack on their bus in Anantnag on Monday, July 10.The last time an armed attack was staged against the annual yatra which draws lakhs of Hindus from across India to the state was on August 1, 2000, when around 30 pilgrims and local porters were killed near PahalgamOn Monday night at around 8:20 pm, the pilgrims’ bus (GJ09Z 9976) was fired on near Khanabal when it was on its way to Jammu.Police said the bus was not a part of the yatra convoy which is being provided elaborate security. It was not registered with the authorities either.The terrorists first attacked a bullet-proof bunker of the police at Botengoo, a police official said. After the police retaliated, the gunmen moved on and fired on a police picket near Khanabal.When the police retaliated, the militants fled, firing indiscriminately in which the bus carrying the yatris got hit.While these police accounts suggest the yatris were a secondary target, some of the surviving pilgrims were quoted by television channels as saying the terrorists had in fact directly targeted them#WATCH Visuals from Anantnag attack site: 2 Amarnath yatra pilgrims killed, many injured after terrorists attacked their bus in Batingu(J&K) pic.twitter.com/DZORy6DWvE— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2017Security has been enhanced at Jammu-Srinagar National highway in Udhampur following terror attack on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/9MKI46fglP— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2017#Visuals from attack site: 2 Amarnath yatra pilgrims killed, many injured after terrorists attacked their bus in Batingu of J&K's Anantnag. pic.twitter.com/oAlXQseroo— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2017The bus had come from Sonamarg. The pilgrims were on their way back after visiting the Amarnath shrine.The police claimed the bus driver had violated rules for the pilgrimage, which state that no yatra vehicle should be on a highway after 7 pm.Condemnation by leadersThe attack drew swift condemnation from Prime Minister Modi and all opposition leaders, as well as politicians across the spectrum in Jammu and Kashmir.In a series of tweets, Modi said India “will never get bogged down by such cowardl yattacks & the evil designs of hate.”Pained beyond words on the dastardly attack on peaceful Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks & the evil designs of hate.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017Congress president Sonia Gandhi called for decisive action against the perpetrators. “The attack on the devotees of Lord Shiva is a crime against humanity. The entire nation is in shock,” she said in a statement. The government should ensure the safety of the pilgrims, she said.Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of the Hurriyat Conference strongly condemned the killing of the yatris, calling them “respected guests.”As the unfortunate news of the Yatris Killing reaches us leadership & people of #Kashmir are deeply saddened &strongly condemn it. To us …— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) July 10, 2017the pilgrims have and will always be respected guests.— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) July 10, 2017While condemning the attack, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury also said the BJP-led government at the Centre must be held accountable for its “mishandling” of the situation in J&K.The situation in Kashmir has deteriorated under the BJP govt's watch. Their mishandling of the situation is a matter of grave concern.— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) July 10, 2017Last killing of pilgrims in terror attack was in 2000, under BJP-led NDA. Now, again in 2017. How did the situation in Kashmir come to this?— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) July 10, 2017We demand accountability from the BJP govt which has mishandled the state, and has now led to the loss of innocent lives in Kashmir.— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) July 10, 2017Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also asked the prime minister to accept responsibility for what had happened and never allow such an attack again.India will never be intimidated by these terrorist cowards— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017This is a grave & unacceptable security lapse. The PM needs to accept responsibility and never allow it to happen again— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017Former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah condemned the attack and those on Twitter who were trying to make light of the killing of the yatris by describing the incident as one where tourists had been killed in cross-fire between the police and militants.Some of the people I follow here need to stop peddling the "tourist bus caught in cross fire" bunkum. You can't be apologists for terror.— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 10, 2017He also urged the Central government to beef up security for Kashmiri students and migrants in other parts of India as a precautionary measure to forestall any retaliatory violence against them.Request @rajnathsingh ji to instruct all state Govt & other authorities to be extra vigilant in colleges/Universities where Kashmiris study.— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 10, 2017Among others who tweeted their condemnation were West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said his government would provide every assistance to the victims’ families.(With agency inputs)Note: This is a developing story