Jammu and Kashmir: Nine pilgrims were killed and 33 injured after terrorists attacked a bus in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, causing the vehicle to plunge into a gorge.
“We received reports that militants were lying in wait and fired on the bus, which had departed from Shivpuri and was en route to Katra. The driver lost control, leading to the bus falling into a gorge. The rescue operation has concluded, with nine fatalities and 33 injured now hospitalized. The passengers are not locals; preliminary information suggests they may be from Uttar Pradesh,” stated Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohita Sharma.
When asked about militant activity in the area, she noted, “Following any militancy incident, we remain on high alert. The Shivpuri shrine was secured, and we had conducted area domination activities in nearby regions.”
? Terror attack kills 10 Hindu pilgrims in Jammu
— Kreately.in (@KreatelyMedia) June 9, 2024
– Terrorists opened fire on bus carrying pilgrims from Vaishno Devi
– The bus fell into ravine after attack
– Bullet shells allegedly recovered from site pic.twitter.com/b9klrlmjap
Senior officials, including SSP Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Pal Mahajan, were present at the site. Police and security forces were conducting a search operation in the area.
Locals reported that two masked militants opened fire on the bus, striking the driver and some passengers. While locals claimed three passengers died from bullet injuries and the rest from the crash, officials said this would be confirmed after post-mortem examinations.
The victims had visited the Shiv Khori shrine and were headed to Katra, a base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated he had spoken with the Lieutenant Governor and the J&K DGP about the incident. “The culprits of this heinous attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law,” he declared.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government’s handling of security, noting, “While PM Narendra Modi and his NDA Government celebrate, a terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives… Just three weeks ago, tourists were fired upon in Pahalgam. The claims of peace and normalcy by the Modi Government ring hollow.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed these concerns, saying the incident reflects “the true picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.”
This attack in Reasi’s Pouni area, near the Rajouri district, is the second targeting of pilgrims in the region. In May 2022, four Vaishno Devi pilgrims were killed and 24 injured when a bus from Katra to Jammu was bombed by terrorists.
Since 2021, 38 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in militant attacks in Rajouri and Poonch districts.