MISSING PHALLUS VEXES HINDU PILGRIMS YJPH SRINAGAR, INDIA (REUTER) - HINDU PILGRIMS DEFYING MILITANT MOSLEMS' THREATS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN LET DOWN THIS YEAR AS THEY REACH A LOFTY HIMALAYAN SHRINE. THE ICE PHALLUS, SYMBOL OF THE HINDU GOD SHIVA, HAS FAILED TO FORM. TROOPS ARE ESCORTING PILGRIMS TO AMARNATH CAVE SACRED TO LORD SHIVA, AT 13,000 FEET IN KASHMIR STATE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ONLY ONE MONTH A YEAR. DEVOTEES RETURNING FROM AMARNATH SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE THE PHALLIC SYMBOL WHERE IT NORMALLY FORMS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. "IT'S A BAD OMEN," SAID A WORRIED PILGRIM. A HARDLINE MOSLEM GROUP FIGHTING INDIA'S RULE OVER THE AREA HAS THREATENED TO ATTACK THE PILGRIMS. 17-AUG-1510. HHK965 HA181483 NEVI ENDS