India heightens security as Hindu pilgrimage begins near Pahalgam

Hindus began a vast month-long pilgrimage in India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) on Thursday, with many of the faithful starting from near the site where a deadly April attack triggered conflict with Pakistan.

Last year, half a million devotees took part in the Amarnath pilgrimage to a sacred ice pillar located in a cave in the forested Himalayan hills above the town of Pahalgam.

India has ramped up security for the event, deploying 45,000 troops with high-tech surveillance tools overseeing...