J&K Police achieves breakthrough in Reasi terror attack, arrests one providing logistics to militants

JAMMU, JUNE 19: The Jammu Kashmir Police, in what may be called a major breakthrough into the recent terror attack on a pilgrims’ bus in Reasi district’s Pouni tehsil, made its first arrest in the case by apprehending a terror associate Hakam Din in the matter.

Hailing from Bandhrahi area in Sunderbani sector of border Rajouri district, Reasi SSP Mohita Sharma said that he not only provided food and shelter to the terrorists at his home, but also brought them to the attack site near Ransoo on June 9.

Nine people were killed and scores of others injured when terrorists attacked the Katra bound bus near Ransoo in Pouni tehsil on June 9. After terrorists’ firing, the bus had fallen into the deep gorge causing more deaths and injuries among the pilgrims.

Police have so far detained more than 150 suspects as part of its investigations into the terror attack.The investigations are in progress.

SSP Reasi said that Hakam Din saying thudding questioning disclosed that the terrorists had visited him thrice and every time, he provided them food and shelter at his house.

Even a day before the attack, terrorists had visited him and made plan to carry out the attack at his house. Thereafter, he took them to the attack site on June 9 and after they carried out the attack on the bus, he brought them back from there.

Police had on Thursday claimed to have “uncovered significant leads in the case, aiding in the identification and capture of those who may be potentially involved in orchestrating the attack”. 

The detentions were made following a thorough probe led by the Pound Police Station. Search had now been expanded to Arnas and Mahore – a hotbed for militancy in the mid-90s.

“These operations aim to uncover further evidence and apprehend terrorists who may be hiding in these remote regions,” the police had said.