JAMMU, JUNE 9: Nine pilgrims were killed and nearly 30 others injured as a local bus, after being attacked by militants at Kanda Chandi Morh near Ransoo in Pouni area on Sunday evening, fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
The victims are reported to be pilgrims from outside J&K. However, their identities are being ascertained.
Reasi SSP Mohita Sharma confirmed the attack, saying that “a group of terrorist attacked a yatri bus coming from Ransoo area of District Reasi, making the driver lose control over the steering which led the vehicle fell into a deep gorge near Kanda area of Pouni in Reasi. Rescue operation was completed at the earliest and injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, she added.
Meanwhile, locals said that two militants wearing masks opened fire on the bus hitting its driver and some passengers. The bus fell into the deep gorge as the driver after getting hit by a bullet lost control over the steering.
The victims after having dashan at Shiv Khori, a Lord Shiva shrine near Ransoo, were on way to Katra town which acts as a base camp for those visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Trikuta Hills.
The militant attack in Pouni area, which falls in close proximity to adjoining Rajouri district, has come after nearly two decades. However, in Reasi district, it has been the second terror attack in last two years as four Vaishno Devi pilgrims were killed and 24 others injured when a bus on way from Katra town to Jammu had caught fire near Kharmal in May 2022. The fire was caused by a sticky bomb planted by militants.
For the past two-three years, there had been reports about militants infiltrating into the Union Territory through the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts also taking the Reasi district route on their way to Kashmir Valley.
The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the “cowardly’’ terror attack on a bus in Reasi, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and has asked him to constantly monitor the situation. “PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care and assistance,’’ he added.
Conveying his condolences to the bereaved families of those killed in attack, Sinha said that all those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. “Our security forces and JKP have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists,’’ he added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on `X’ said that “all the chest-thmping propaganda of bringing peace and normalcy by the Modi (now NDA) Govt rings hollow’’. “India stands united against terrorism’’.
“Even while PM, Shri Narendra Modi and his NDA Govt get sworn in and heads of several countries area in the country, a dastardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives of at least 10 Indians,’’ he said.
“We unequivocally condemn this gruesome terror attack on our people and deliberate affront to our National Security,’’ Kharge said, expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, besides wishing and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.
He asked the government and the authorities to provide immediate assistance and compensation to the victims.
Former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister and chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, Ghulam Nabi Azad, “strongly condemned’’ the militant attack on pilgrim bus in Ramsoo, Reasi, saying that “this inhumane act deserves strongest condemnation. Prayers for the injured and condolencesto the families who lost their loved ones,’’ he added.