Reasi terror attack: JK police releases sketch of terrorist, announces Rs 20 lakh reward for information

Representation Pic

Jammu and Kashmir police has released a sketch of one of the terrorists involved in the Reasi terror attack on a bus in Reasi and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any fruitful information about him. At least 10 people were killed and 42 others were injured on June 9 when the terrorist attacked the bus, carrying pilgrims, which plunged into a gorge following the attack, reported ANI.

The sketch has been prepared on the disclosure and description of eyewitnesses, the police said in a release on Tuesday. The police also appealed to the general public to provide any reliable information on the following contact numbers-SSP Reasi - 9205571332ASP Reasi - 9419113159DySP HQ Reasi - 9419133499SHO Pouni - 7051003214SHO Ransoo- 7051003213PCR Reasi- 9622856295, reported ANI.

The bus, coming from Shiv Khori shrine to Katra (famous for the Vaishno Devi temple), carrying pilgrims was targeted by terrorists at around 6.10 pm on June 9, when it reached the Pouni area of Reasi district, bordering Rajouri district. The Jammu and Kashmir police have said that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba is believed to be behind the attack. J-K police have formed 11 teams to investigate the attack.

A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) assessed the situation in Reasi on Monday and the NIA's forensic team is working on collecting evidence. Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on June 10 had announced an ex-gratia amounting to Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured in the Reasi terror attack.

Meanwhile, extensive efforts to track down terrorists involved in the attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district continued on Tuesday, with 11 teams of security personnel working on the ground and a multi-directional cordon laid around the Ranso-Poni-Treyath belt, officials said, reported PTI.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team also joined the operation and scanned the area for leads, they said.

Security forces have sounded a high alert in Jammu and Rajouri districts and intensified checking and frisking in the belt following the terror attack that left nine dead and 41 injured.

According to the officials, more than 20 people have been detained for questioning.

On Sunday, terrorists opened fire at the 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area.

The bus, which was ferrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)