At least 10 individuals have lost their lives, and 33 others have sustained injuries after suspected militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu worshippers in the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to police officials. The driver reportedly lost control, causing the bus to plunge into a gorge in Reasi district of Jammu.
While rescue operations have been completed, the Indian army and police are currently conducting a search operation to apprehend the attackers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken “stock of the situation” and instructed that the best medical care be provided to the injured. “All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon,” wrote Manoj Sinha, the region’s top administrator.
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Officials stated that the bus was en route to the base camp of the renowned Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi when it came under fire. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Mohita Sharma, the district police chief, informed Reuters that suspected militants had “ambushed the bus.”
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan for over six decades. Since 1947, the nuclear-armed neighbors have engaged in two wars over the Muslim-majority territory, which both claim in full but control partially. Since 1989, Indian-administered Kashmir has experienced an armed insurgency against Delhi’s rule, resulting in thousands of casualties.
Delhi accuses Islamabad of harboring militants and disrupting peace in the region, a charge Pakistan denies. The news of Sunday’s attack emerged as Mr. Modi took oath as India’s prime minister for the third consecutive term at a swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.
While the passengers are yet to be identified, it is believed that they are from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, as stated by Ms. Sharma to a newspaper. Photos depicted some injured individuals, including a woman, being transported to a hospital in Jammu for treatment.
Amit Shah, the former home minister in Mr. Modi’s previous government, expressed sorrow over the incident. “The perpetrators of this cowardly attack will not escape justice and will face the full force of the law,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition party Congress, raised concerns about the security situation in the region. “This shameful incident reflects the alarming security conditions in Jammu and Kashmir,” he wrote on X.
In 2017, seven Hindu worshippers, including six women, were killed when their bus, returning from the renowned Amarnath pilgrimage site in Anantnag district, became caught in a gun battle between police and militants.
