JAMMU, June 10: A massive cordon and search operation is currently underway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district to track down the terrorists responsible for a deadly attack on a passenger bus. The assault, which targeted a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, resulted in nine fatalities and left 41 others injured.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), State Investigation Agency (SIA), and forensic department teams have swiftly responded to the incident, conducting on-site investigations to gather crucial evidence.
According to officials, the attack occurred when terrorists opened fire on the 53-seater bus, causing it to plunge into a deep gorge near Teryath village in the Poni area. Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack, labeling it as part of a malicious agenda aimed at disrupting peace in the region. He assured that such attempts would be foiled.
The Director General of Police (DGP) and senior officers, in collaboration with the Army, are set to visit the site to assess the situation firsthand.
To intensify efforts, security forces, including the Army, police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have established a multi-dimensional cordon in the Teryath-Poni-Shiv Khori area, bordering Rajouri district. Equipped with advanced surveillance tools such as drones and sniffer dogs, a thorough combing operation has been initiated in the area and its surroundings.
Authorities believe that the terrorists responsible for the attack are hiding in the upper reaches of neighboring Rajouri and Reasi, which are characterized by dense forests and deep gorges.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Mohita Sharma confirmed the launch of a search operation in the area, stating that efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators. The involvement of two terrorists in the attack has been reported.
In response to the incident, village defense committees have been mobilized in the area to bolster security measures.
Meanwhile, protests against Pakistan erupted across the Jammu region, including Katra, Doda town, and Kathua district. Protesters, denouncing Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, called for enhanced security measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
As investigations continue, both local and national agencies are collaborating to ensure a comprehensive probe into the terrorist attack.
