
In the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 10 individuals have lost their lives and 33 have been injured after suspected militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, according to police officials. The driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a gorge in the Reasi district of Jammu.
Rescue operations have concluded, but the Indian army and police continue their search for the attackers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation and has called for the best possible medical care for the injured. "All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon," stated Manoj Sinha, the region's top administrator, on X (formerly Twitter).
The bus was en route to the base camp of the renowned Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi when it came under attack. While no group has claimed responsibility, district police chief Mohita Sharma informed Reuters that suspected militants had "ambushed the bus."
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a contentious area between India and Pakistan for over six decades. Since their independence in 1947, the two nuclear-armed nations have fought two wars over this Muslim-majority territory, which both countries claim in full but control in part. Since 1989, an armed insurgency against Delhi's rule in Indian-administered Kashmir has resulted in thousands of deaths. Delhi accuses Islamabad of supporting militants and disrupting peace in the region, a charge that Pakistan denies.
The attack occurred as Prime Minister Modi was being sworn in for his third consecutive term in Delhi. The passengers are believed to be from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to Sharma. Photos from the scene showed some of the injured, including a woman, being transported to a hospital in Jammu for treatment.
Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, "The culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law," on X. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition party Congress, criticized the security situation in the region, calling it a "shameful incident" that highlights the worrying security conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.
This tragic event recalls a similar incident in 2017, where seven Hindu pilgrims, including six women, were killed after their bus, returning from the Amarnath pilgrimage site in Anantnag district, was caught in a gun battle between police and militants.
#AllEyesOnReasi trends after Militant Attack on Hindu Pilgrims' Bus in Jammu and Kashmir
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