Despite assurances from Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, People's Democratic Party vice-president Mehbooba Mufti and others, 21 villagers left Nadimarg, where 24 Kashmiri Pandits were killed recently, on Friday afternoon.

On hearing that they were going to Jammu, senior police and civil officials intercepted them at Khanabal in Anantnag district.

Promising to provide additional security, the officials asked them not to migrate.

The group returned to Nadimarg under tight security in the evening. However, the villagers told the officers that they would leave for Jammu in three days.

According to sources, the 21 villagers, who were from eight families, had asked the Muslims in Nadimarg to take care of their livestock and property.

Eight of them had decided not to join a migrating group on Thursday.

There are nearly 10,000 Pandits living in 270 villages in the valley.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed held a meeting in Srinagar to review the situation in Kashmir.

He asked the police to strengthen the security in areas inhabited by the minorities. He also said that district police chiefs and deputy commissioners should regularly visit such areas.

The chief minister made it clear that "security lapses would not be accepted".