REASI, June 10: After the tragic terror attack in Reasi district that claimed the lives of around nine pilgrims on Sunday, the Jammu and Kashmir police revealed on Monday that at least two terrorists were involved in the assault. “As per eyewitnesses, two terrorists were present at the scene. A combing operation is currently underway in the area, with five teams formed to conduct the search,” stated Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohita Sharma.
Providing details of the attack, SSP Sharma explained that the militants opened fire on a bus around 06:10 pm on Sunday. “Nine people are feared dead, and 33 others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in various hospitals,” she added. Additionally, the SSP mentioned that five teams have been deployed to scour the dense forest area surrounding the incident site.
Bhushan Uppal, a former Sarpanch, recounted the harrowing ordeal, stating that the firing persisted for approximately 15-20 minutes, during which the bus driver was fatally shot. “As soon as we learned of the terrorist attack, we rushed to the spot to rescue the passengers. According to the injured individuals, one of the terrorists shot the bus driver in the head, causing the vehicle to lose control and plunge into a ditch. The terrorists continued firing for 15 to 20 minutes, resulting in injuries to several passengers,” Uppal narrated.
Both the Indian Army and the State Disaster Response Force are actively involved at the site, with drones being utilized to search the forested area. According to officials, the bus, en route from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, was targeted by terrorists around 6:10 pm when it reached the Pouni area of Reasi district, adjacent to Rajouri district. “Terrorists opened fire, leading to the driver losing control and the bus plunging into a gorge,” officials disclosed.
