Pakistan-backed terror outfit claims responsibility for J&K bus terror attack
Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi area on Sunday, which killed ten people and injured around 34 more. In a message, the TRF warned of more such attacks against “tourists and non-locals” and dubbed the Reasi attack simply the “beginning of a renewed start”.
India declared the Resistance Front as a terrorist organization in 2023. It was established in 2019 following the repeal of Article 370, which conferred special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and has been implicated in scores of terror incidents.
A major search operation has been undertaken to find the terrorists. Security has been increased in the region, with Home Ministry sources informed India Today that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been tasked with investigating the attack.
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Reasi terror attack
The tragedy occurred as the vehicle was returning from Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Terrorists hidden in the neighboring forest ambushed the car and began fire. The bus driver was wounded by a bullet and lost his balance, forcing the vehicle to slide down the gorge.
According to PTI, some of the victims have been identified, said authorities. Most of the victims were from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The bus driver and conductor who were killed in the terrorist attack have also been recognized. Driver Vijay Kumar was from Dasanoo Rajbagh village, and conductor Arun Kumar was from Kandera village in Katra, both of which are in Reasi.
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According to Reasi DCP Vishesh Paul Mahajan, the district government is transporting the bodies to their respective states. According to PTI, 34 of the injured are from Uttar Pradesh, five from Delhi, and two from Rajasthan.
According to India Today sources, the Reasi bus attack featured two to three terrorists. The attackers are from the same outfit that has carried out previous attacks in Rajouri and Poonch during the last month. The attackers were concealed in the deep forest when they ambushed the bus on Sunday.
According to sources, the terrorists have escaped Reasi and have not been in contact with anyone thus far.
