Attack on Hindu Pilgrim Bus
Terrorists attacked a bus conveying Hindu pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the Reasi area of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, resulting in at least 9 deaths and 33 injuries.
Terrorists attacked the 53-seater bus as it arrived in the Pouni neighborhood close to Teryath village at approximately 6:10 p.m. Witnesses said that at least two terrorists opened fire on the bus, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to crash down a steep gorge.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a terror group supported by Pakistan and a front for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), took credit for the attack. TRF said in a message that the Reasi incident was only the “beginning of a renewed start” and warned of additional attacks of this nature against “tourists and non-locals”.
The incident happened at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term swearing-in ceremony. Leading government officials disclosed that the attackers are approximately twelve jihadists, including citizens of Pakistan, who are operating in groups of two or three among the Rajouri-Poonch jungles in the Jammu area.
“An unfortunate incident occurred and as per the initial reports, the terrorists had laid an ambush and opened fire on the bus which had left Shiv Khori for Katra. The driver lost balance and the vehicle fell into the gorge,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Mohita Sharma told reporters.
After assessing the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha the order to make sure the families receive all the help they need. For the families of the victims, Sinha pledged an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh for each, and for the injured, ₹50,000 each.
Reasi has also been approached by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is working with the local police to investigate the attack. A huge cordon and search operation has been initiated by security forces in an attempt to locate the terrorists who carried out the horrific deed.
The Reasi incident brings to light the persistent threat posed by terror groups with bases in Pakistan, such as LeT, and their attempts to sow discord in the Jammu and Kashmir area. The attack has been taken extremely seriously by the Modi government, particularly in light of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which begins on June 29.
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