Sanjay Khajuria
Jammu: Security forces have heightened vigilance and intensified checks in Jammu and Rajouri districts of J&K after intelligence reports indicated that terrorists involved in Sunday’s deadly ambush on a pilgrim bus in neighbouring Reasi may have infiltrated these areas to escape a sweeping search operation spanning over 30km of challenging terrain, characterised by dense forests and deep gorges near the attack site, official sources said Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, at least 20 local residents have been detained for questioning to determine if they saw the terrorists or inadvertently assisted them. J&K police released a sketch of one of the terrorists and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information about him. The suspected kingpins of the attack include former Pakistani army SSG commando turned Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Illiyas Fauji and three other Pakistan-based LeT terrorists: Abu Hamza, Handoon, and Sajjad Jutt. “They are also believed to have orchestrated a previous attack on an IAF convoy on May 4, which resulted in the death of an airman,” an official said.
According to sources, at least three Pakistani LeT terrorists, acting on orders from their commander Abu Hamza, ambushed the bus with sophisticated weapons, including a US-made M4 Carbine, near Teryath village in Poni area of Reasi. The bus, en route from Shiv Khori cave shrine to Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Katra, veered off the road and tumbled down the mountainside.
The attack resulted in nine fatalities, including a two-year-old child and a 14-year-old boy, and left 41 others wounded. The casualties included four family members from Rajasthan’s Chomu, three people from UP, and the bus driver and conductor, both Reasi natives. The bodies of the four victims from Rajasthan arrived in Jaipur by train Tuesday.
In response to the attack, security has been tightened across Kashmir Valley, which is preparing for the annual Amarnath Yatra set to commence on June 29. The pilgrimage will proceed from Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
IG VK Birdi reviewed the security arrangements Tuesday. SSP Ganderbal provided a detailed briefing about the upcoming Mela Kheer Bhawani, celebrated in various temples across Kashmir Valley on June 13 and 14. Security measures for Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra and Machail Yatra in the Jammu region have also been reassessed. Despite the attack, devotees continued to visit the Shiv Khori temple. On Tuesday, many stopped near the attack site near Teryath to pay their respects, shouting slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and praying for the deceased.
As of Tuesday, at least 20 local residents have been detained for questioning to determine if they saw the terrorists or inadvertently assisted them. J&K police released a sketch of one of the terrorists and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information about him. The suspected kingpins of the attack include former Pakistani army SSG commando turned Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Illiyas Fauji and three other Pakistan-based LeT terrorists: Abu Hamza, Handoon, and Sajjad Jutt. “They are also believed to have orchestrated a previous attack on an IAF convoy on May 4, which resulted in the death of an airman,” an official said.
According to sources, at least three Pakistani LeT terrorists, acting on orders from their commander Abu Hamza, ambushed the bus with sophisticated weapons, including a US-made M4 Carbine, near Teryath village in Poni area of Reasi. The bus, en route from Shiv Khori cave shrine to Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Katra, veered off the road and tumbled down the mountainside.
The attack resulted in nine fatalities, including a two-year-old child and a 14-year-old boy, and left 41 others wounded. The casualties included four family members from Rajasthan’s Chomu, three people from UP, and the bus driver and conductor, both Reasi natives. The bodies of the four victims from Rajasthan arrived in Jaipur by train Tuesday.
In response to the attack, security has been tightened across Kashmir Valley, which is preparing for the annual Amarnath Yatra set to commence on June 29. The pilgrimage will proceed from Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
IG VK Birdi reviewed the security arrangements Tuesday. SSP Ganderbal provided a detailed briefing about the upcoming Mela Kheer Bhawani, celebrated in various temples across Kashmir Valley on June 13 and 14. Security measures for Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra and Machail Yatra in the Jammu region have also been reassessed. Despite the attack, devotees continued to visit the Shiv Khori temple. On Tuesday, many stopped near the attack site near Teryath to pay their respects, shouting slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and praying for the deceased.