Mamata Banerjee calls for probe into terror attack on bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir

Mamata Banerjee. File pic

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday expressed grief over the death of nine people in an attack by terrorists on a bus with pilgrims on board in Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded an investigation into the incident.

Taking to X, Banerjee said, "Learnt that there has been an incident of attack on some pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir, and there have been consequently 9 deaths. The matter should be immediately investigated into. I convey my profound condolences to the victim families."

Nine people were killed and 33 injured as terrorists struck a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Sunday evening, opening fire on the vehicle which fell into a gorge, a senior police officer said.

The attack occurred on the bus en route from Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in Poni. The 53-seater bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire around 6:15 pm.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the terrorist attack on a bus in Reasi district was part of a nefarious design to spread turmoil in Jammu region, and asserted that such an attempt would be thwarted.

"An unfortunate incident had happened yesterday evening when terrorists targeted the driver of a bus as a result of which he lost control and the vehicle plunged into a gorge resulting in the death of nine persons. A joint operation by police, CRPF and Army is underway to punish those responsible for the incident," the Lt Governor told reporters at the Government Medical College here after meeting 18 of the injured admitted to the facility.

He said Director General of Police R R Swain along with his team is on the spot supervising the anti-terror operation.

"Our immediate priority is saving the lives of those injured. We know there is no compensation for loss of life but to help the families, the administration has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 each for the injured," Sinha said.

The Lt Governor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah are keeping a close watch on the situation and spoke to him immediately after the attack.

"Those responsible will not be spared. The attack is part of a nefarious design to somehow spread turmoil to Jammu region but we are determined to thwart such an attempt," Sinha said.

The Lt governor said he will also visit Narayan hospital in Katra area of Reasi district to enquire about the welfare of 14 other injured persons admitted there.

(With inputs from PTI)