The safety forces in Jammu and Kashmir have launched a large manhunt for 3 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who attacked a bus stuffed with Hindu pilgrims within the union territory’s Reasi district on Sunday. 9 individuals, together with a two-year-old toddler, died within the assault.
The bus was returning to Katra, Vaishno Devi, from Shiv Khouri, one other pilgrimage spot, when at the least three overseas terrorists opened hearth on the car. After the driving force was hit, the bus veered off the highway and fell right into a deep gorge. The terrorists even fired on the mangled bus to inflict most harm, stated eyewitnesses.
The survivors of the bus attack stated they played dead as a way to make the terrorists cease firing on the car.
Santosh Kumar Verma, a local of UP’s Balrampur district, stated when he first noticed a terrorist blocking the car’s means, he thought he wouldn’t survive. He advised The Indian Express that he noticed the driving force’s head falling on the steering wheel. The bus then fell into the gorge.
One other eyewitness stated they laid pinned on the bottom with out making any motion. “We pretended to be useless till the militants left,” he added.
Rajat Ram Verma stated he misplaced his 14-year-old son within the assault.
Also read: Pakistan-based terror group LeT behind Reasi terror attack
“Immediately, somebody cried that militants had attacked the bus. I instantly pushed my spouse and son beneath the seat, however earlier than we might take the quilt, the bus fell down into the gorge and I misplaced my grip on my son,” he advised the each day.
11 groups of police, military and CRPF are collectively engaged on two completely different axes to neutralise the terrorists, a senior police official advised PTI.
The authorities haven’t dominated out the opportunity of a fourth individual being current on the spot who acted as a lookout for the terrorists.
The bus was carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.
The Resistance Entrance (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, initially claimed accountability for the assault however retracted its assertion later.
Two-year-old Titu Sawhney and his mom Pooja, the bus driver and conductor, are among the many deceased. 5 of the 9 deceased had gunshot wounds. Out of 41 injured, 10 have gunshot wounds.
The operation is being carried out in troublesome terrain. The forces have fanned out to intercept the terrorists regardless of dense forest, lack of water sources, menace of forest fires, steep slopes and crevices that work as pure hideouts, stated a senior officer.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stated the assault was a despicable try to instigate turmoil in Jammu.
With inputs from PTI