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50,000 pilgrims dip in Pushkar; four Kashmiris arrested

About 50,000 pilgrims took a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake in Ajmer in Rajasthan on Friday, even as four people from Jammu and Kashmir were arrested in view of threats of a terrorist attack during the annual Pushkar fair, official sources said.

Braving inclement weather, the devotees thronged the ghats of the holy lake, 13kms from Ajmer, early in the morning and took a bath on the occasion of Kartik Ekadashi.

They then visited various temples nearby, including the Brahma temple, the only one of its kind.

Four Kashmiris were arrested in Pushkar after intelligence agencies said Islamic fundamentalists were planning a terrorist strike during the world famous fair, which is visited by many foreigners.

"They are being interrogated, but nothing tangible has come out till now," Additional DGP (Intelligence) Arun Duggar told reporters in Jaipur.

While three of them arrived in Pushkar on Thursday from the Kashmir valley, another came from Goa, he said.

Ajmer Superintendent of Police Saurabh Srivastava said the identities of the arrested persons are being ascertained.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened and 3,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Pushkar.

Despite the US and British governments warning their citizens not to visit the fair in view of threat perception, officials said more than 1,000 foreign tourists have reached the fair and were seen enjoying camel rides and Rajasthani folk music.

A cattle fair is also being held simultaneously where traders have brought 19,000 cattle heads.

The state government has also organised an industrial craft and handicrafts fair.

The fair will conclude on November 19 when devotees would dip in the Pushkar Lake for the Kartik Purnima ritual bath.

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