New Delhi, June 10: French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou expressed condolence on the Reasi terror attack which killed nine and wished speedy recovery for the injured.
“Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the attack in #Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir. We wish the injured a speedy recovery and stand in full solidarity with India,” the French envoy posted on X.
The terror attack took place in J-K’s Reasi district on Sunday after a vehicle fell into a deep gorge after terrorists opened fire killing at least nine people and leaving over 30 injured.
The Jammu and Kashmir police said on Monday, that at least two terrorists were involved in the attack.
“As per eyewitnesses, two (terrorists) were there as of now. A combing operation is underway in the area. Five teams have been formed to search in the area,” Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohita Sharma told ANI.
The SSP further said that five teams have been formed to conduct the search operation in the dense forest area in and around the incident spot.
The Indian Army and State Disaster Response Force are also present at the site. Drones are also being used to search the forest area.
According to officials, the bus, en route from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, was targeted by terrorists at around 6.10 pm when it reached the Pouni area of Reasi district, bordering Rajouri district.
“Terrorists opened fire, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to plunge into a gorge,” they said.
Officials said that the rescue operations are complete and the injured have been taken to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals.
J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and assured that those behind it would be punished.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces and JKP have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists,” the LG said in a post on X. (ANI)
Deliberate, meant to create fear: Union Minister Athawale
A day after a passenger bus was targeted by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Monday called the attack a deliberate one, saying that it was just to “create fear.”
At least nine people were killed and over 30 others were injured after a bus carrying pilgrims coming from the Shiv Khori shrine was targeted by terrorists on Sunday evening in Reasi.
“I believe terrorism has ended in the region of J-K. This attack was carried out deliberately, just to create fear as PM Narendra Modi forms the government for the third time,” he told ANI on Monday.
Union Minister Athawale also said that the recurrence of such incidents would necessitate taking over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“But if such incidents keep happening in the future, I think we will have to fight a war with Pakistan and take over Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Because of PoK, many terrorists enter the country and carry out such attacks, so the Modi government can soon take a decision to take over Pakistan occupied Kashmir,” he said.
A search operation is underway in the forest area in Reasi after the terror attack incident. The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, and CRPF are present at the site.
Earlier, the officials said that the rescue operations are complete and the injured have been taken to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals. LG Sinha also visited the injured at the hospital.
A control room has been created by the district administration to provide all necessary assistance. A joint security force temporary HQ by J&K Police, Army, and CRPF has been set up at the site and a search operation is in progress to neutralise the perpetrators of the Reasi terror attack, they added.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu, LG Manoj Sinha said, “The bus driver was attacked by the terrorists, after which the bus fell in the ditch. 9 people have lost their lives and around 37 people have been injured. The people responsible for this will be severely punished. Our priority is to save the injured. We have decided to provide Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.”
Also, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is assessing the situation in Reasi and the NIA’s forensic team is working on collecting evidence.
As per the officials, the bus coming from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra was targeted by terrorists at around 6.10 pm when it reached the Pouni area of Reasi district, bordering Rajouri district. “Terrorists opened fire, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to plunge into a gorge,” they said.
Jammu and Kashmir police said earlier in the day that at least two terrorists were involved in the attack. “As per eyewitnesses, two (terrorists) were there as of now. A combing operation is underway in the area. Five teams have been formed to search in the area,” Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohita Sharma told ANI. (ANI)
Bollywood expresses grief, offer prayers
As a bus carrying pilgrims to the Shiv Khori temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district fell into a deep gorge in a suspected terror attack, Bollywood celebrities took to social media to express their grief and offer prayers for the victims.
The tragic incident that took place on Sunday evening resulted in at least nine deaths and left over 33 others injured.
Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh took to his X account to condemn the incident, writing, “Heart broken & devastated with the visuals of the Reasi terror attack. Prayers with the victims and families.”
Actor-turned-politician and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut also took to Instagram Stories to pen a note on the suspected terror attack.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack on the pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir. They were going for Vaishnodevi Darshan and terrorists open fired them only because they were Hindus. I pray for the departed and hope for the swift recovery of the injured. Om shanti,” read her post.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher also took to his X account to condemn the incident and wrote “Angry, Pained and Saddened by the cowardly attack on pilgrims in Reasi. Jammu! May Almighty give the loved ones of victims the strength to bear the pain and loss. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
According to officials, the bus, en route from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, was targetted by terrorists at around 06.10 pm when it reached Pouni area of Reasi district bordering Rajouri district.
“Terrorists opened fire, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to plunge into a gorge,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma told ANI.The SSP further said that the rescue operations are complete and the injured have been taken to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals. “The identities of the passengers were not confirmed. Initial reports suggest they belong to Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
The Indian Army launched a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi on Monday morning. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has also arrived in Reasi and drones are also being used in search operation in dense forest areas in and around the incident site. (ANI)
