Indian authorities are investigating an attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in Jammu province, Kashmir on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Suspected militants opened fire on the bus, causing it to veer off the road and plummet into a deep gorge, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and injuring 33 others. The bus was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, a significant Hindu pilgrimage site, when it came under attack in the Reasi district.
A police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that some victims sustained gunshot wounds, attributing the attack to Muslim militants opposing Indian rule in Kashmir. Although no group has claimed responsibility, the incident highlights the ongoing conflict in the region. Rebel groups have been fighting for Kashmir’s independence or its merger with Pakistan since 1989. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, involving civilians, militants, and government forces.
In the aftermath of the attack, residents and police teams worked together to rescue the injured and transport them to the Government Medical College hospital in Jammu for treatment. Videos circulated online showed bodies lying on the rocky slope beside the highway, underscoring the horrific nature of the attack.
Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir announced compensation of $11,975 for the families of those killed and $600 for the injured. Federal minister Amit Shah assured that the attackers would face severe consequences. “The culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law,” Shah posted on social media platform X.
India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, each administer parts of Kashmir but claim the entire territory. India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir, a claim Pakistan denies, framing the conflict as a legitimate struggle for freedom supported by most Muslim Kashmiris.
Security forces, including a team from the National Investigation Agency, have been deployed to the site to track down the perpetrators. The Indian government has intensified security measures in the region to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was sworn in for his third consecutive term in office just hours before the attack, expressed his condolences and directed that the best possible medical care be provided to the injured. “I am anguished by the loss of lives in this tragic incident. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” Modi said.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Indian National Congress, described the attack as “saddening” and “shameful,” highlighting the “worrying security situation” in Jammu and Kashmir. He called for enhanced security measures to protect civilians and pilgrims in the region.
The conflict in Kashmir remains one of the longest-running and deadliest disputes in the world. Both India and Pakistan have fought multiple wars over the territory, with periodic flare-ups of violence. The international community continues to urge both nations to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but tensions remain high, exacerbated by incidents such as this deadly bus attack.
