Pakistan-backed terror group claims responsibility of J&K bus terror attack

 

The Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Sunday that killed 10 and injured 33 others.

A massive search operation has been launched to trace the terrorists after 10 people were killed and 33 others were injured following  on Sunday evening. Security has been strengthened in the area, with Home Ministry sources informing India Today that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been tasked with the probe into the attack.

The damaged bus after it plunged into a gorge following an attack by terrorists, in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Short

• 10 killed, 33 injured after terrorist open fire at bus carrying pilgrims
• Terrorists ambushed bus, which fell into gorge after firing
• Pilgrims were from different states, including Delhi, UP, Rajasthan.

The incident happened when the bus was returning from Shiv Khori shrine en route to Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The terrorists, hiding in the nearby forest, ambushed the vehicle and opened fire. The driver of the bus was hit by a bullet and lost balance, causing the vehicle to roll down the gorge.

As part of the search operation, drones are being used to search the dense vegetation around the spot where the attack took place. Furthermore, a team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have joined the operation.

Here are top developments in the Reasi terror attack:

• Some of the victims have been identified, news agency PTI reported, citing authorities. Most victims were from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The driver and conductor of the bus, who died in the terror attack, have also been identified. While driver Vijay Kumar was from the Dasanoo Rajbagh village, conductor Arun Kumar was a native of Kandera village in Katra, both in Reasi.Reasi DCP Vishesh Paul Mahajan said the district administration is sending the bodies to their respective states.Among the injured, 34 are from Uttar Pradesh, five from Delhi and two from Rajasthan, PTI reported, citing officials.

• Sources told India Today that two to three terrorists were involved in the Reasi bus attack. The terrorists are part of the same group that carried out other attacks in Rajouri and Poonch over the past month. The terrorists were hiding in the dense vegetation and ambushed the bus on Sunday. 

  Sources added that the terrorists, with whom no contact has been established so far, have fled Reasi.  

  • Survivors of the attack told India Today that the terrorists continued firing at the bus despite the vehicle falling into a gorge as a result of the attack. One survivor said that the terrorists came down into the gorge and continued firing for several minutes as passengers stayed quiet to pretend they were all dead.

  • Police evacuated the passengers by 8.10 pm with the help of local villagers. Reasi Superintendent of Police (SP) supervised the evacuation and rushed the injured to different hospitals. A joint operation headquarters of the police, Indian Army and CRPF was set up at the site and a multi-dimensional operation was launched to get the attackers.

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and directed that all the injured are provided with the best possible medical care, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a tweet. Besides, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Union Minister Amit Shah, President Droupadi Murmu, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and Trinamool Congress supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among others, condemned the terror attack.

     

     

    (With inputs from Aman Bharadwaj, Fareed and ANI)