STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Nine people were killed and 33 injured as terrorists struck a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh in Reasi district on Sunday evening, opening fire on the vehicle which fell into a gorge, a senior police officer said.
The attack occurred on the bus en route from Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus, a 53-seater, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire at aound 6:15 pm.

“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 at the scene.
Sharma said the rescue operation was completed and so far nine persons are dead and 33 others injured in the incident and they have been shifted to different hospitals.

“The identity of the deceased is not clear yet but preliminary reports suggest that they all belong to Uttar Pradesh,” the officer said.
Sharma said they usually remain on high alert and have fully secured the Shiv Khori temple with frequent conduct of area domination patrols in the adjoining areas for the past many days.
“We have also started firing practice for the Village Defence Guards and they all have been put on alert,” the SSP said.
This attack marks a significant escalation in violence in the region, as the Reasi district had previously been relatively untouched by terrorist activities compared to neighbouring areas like Rajouri and Poonch.
Locals rushed to the site and started assisting the victims. Eyewitnesses shared harrowing accounts of the attack, with one survivor describing how the bus was barraged with 25 to 30 shots before it plunged down the gorge.
Another witness recalled seeing a masked assailant in a red muffler firing on the bus. The injured pilgrims were rushed to Teryath Hospital for treatment.
“We were supposed to leave at 4 pm but the bus left around 5.30 pm and suddenly came under fire,” an injured pilgrim from Banaras, admitted to Teryath hospital, said.
Jammu and Kashmir police spokesperson said in a statement that a bus carrying yatris from Shiv Khori to Katra was targeted “apparently by terrorists using firearms” at about 6.10 PM in the Pouni area of Reasi district bordering Rajouri district.
The driver was hit and lost control, resulting in the bus sliding into the nearby gorge.
“With the help of local villagers, police have evacuated all the passengers by 8.10 pm. SP Reasi supervised the evacuation and dispatched the injured to different hospitals.
The 33 injured have been referred to various hospitals — 13 in Reasi, five in CHC Treyath and 15 to GMC in Jammu.
A joint security force temporary operation headquarters by Police, Army and CRPF has been set up at the site and a multidimensional operation has been launched to get at the attackers.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan also reached the scene to coordinate rescue and search operations.
Security forces from Reasi and the neighbouring Rajouri district were mobilised for a comprehensive search to locate and eliminate the terrorists responsible for the heinous act.
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by Pakistan-based terrorist elements seeking to instigate unrest and revive militancy in the Jammu region.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) strongly condemned the terrorist attack and demanded stern action against terror groups and complete sanitisation of the region to free it from terrorists.
This was the second time terrorists attacked a pilgrim bus in Jammu and Kashmir in the past three decades. Earlier, a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims was fired upon by terrorists in Kashmir’s Anantnag district in July 2017, killing seven pilgrims and injuring 19 others.
Meanwhile, widespread condemnations are pouring in from across the country over the gruesome terror attack, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Even while PM, Narendra Modi and his NDA Government get sworn in and heads of several countries are in the country, a dastardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives.”
“We unequivocally condemn this gruesome terror attack on our people and deliberate affront to our National Security,” he said in a post on X.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims wish and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Government and authorities should provide immediate assistance and compensation to the victims,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the cowardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shivkhodi temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district is extremely saddening.
“This shameful incident is the true picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
“I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The entire country stands united against terrorism,” the former Congress chief said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “The cowardly terrorist attack on a bus full of pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad and condemnable. Terrorism is a violent act against humanity against which the entire country stands in solidarity.”
“I pray for peace to all the departed souls and speedy recovery of the injured. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” she said in a post.

Culprits will not be spared, face wrath of law: Shah

NEW DELHI: Newly sworn-in Minister Amit Shah expressed deep pain over the incident.
In a post on X, Shah stated, “Deeply pained by the incident of the attack on pilgrims in Reasi, J&K. Spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and the DGP, J&K, and inquired about the incident. The culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law. The local administration is working on a war footing to provide immediate medical attention. May the Almighty give the loved ones of the deceased the strength to bear this pain. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured”.

All those behind heinous act will be punished soon: Sinha

SRINAGAR: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has strongly condemned the terror attack on a bus in Reasi on Sunday. The Lieutenant Governor extended his deepest condolences to the family members of civilians who have lost their lives in the terror attack. He said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and directed him to constantly monitor the situation and to ensure all possible assistance to the families.
The Lieutenant Governor posted on X: “I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces & JKP have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists. PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji took stock of the situation and has asked me to constantly monitor the situation. All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. Hon’ble PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance”.