Vaishno Devi on terrorist target? NIA investigates burnt bus; unknown terrorist outfit claims the attack

Jammu, May 16: Local bus from Katra (where the Vaishno Devi cave temple is located) to Jammu caught fire near Kharmal on Friday (May 13), whereby at least 4 persons were killed and 22 others were injured. A letter issued by an unknown terror outfit has claimed the responsibility for the attack. An NIA team has so far inspected the attacked bus on Saturday (May 14).

 

 

 

 

According to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), "A local bus while on its way from Katra to Jammu caught fire near Kharmal about 1.5 km from Katra. As per preliminary details, the bus caught fire from the engine area which soon engulfed the whole bus. Two persons died on the spot while 22 others have been shifted to Katra." The ADGP further added that 2 more succumbed to their injuries later taking the death toll to 4.

 

 

 

 

 

Based on the preliminary investigation, Deputy Commissioner Babila Rakwal, Reasi said, "This was not a blast but a bus tank explosion due to overheating." However, later on Saturday (May 16), a letter went viral on social media. Nadeem Choudary, the spokesperson of the claimed terror outfit ‘Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighters’, issued the letter that said, "a special squad of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighters’ carried out an IED blast at Kharmal Katra on a bus carrying non-locals.”

 

The letter further read, "In the guise of religious pilgrimage this Hindutva regime is trying its best to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir. But we will sabotage their filthy propaganda at every level. This attack is linked to a series of bombings carried out by our special squad at Jammu, Udhampur and Rajouri areas. We warn the non locals who are used as cannon fodder by this Hindutva regime not to visit the disputed territory.”

 

 

 

 

 

The letter concluded with a warning stating, "We also warn the minority community of Jammu to make a safe distance from such non local elements and Hindutva agents. Our attacks will continue on such targets in future”. However, the authenticity of the claims made in the letter have not been proven yet. Considering the possibility of terrorist involvement in the incident, the NIA has also been involved in the investigation, along with J&K police.