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2024 Reasi attack

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2024 Reasi attack
Part of the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
LocationReasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Date9 June 2024
TargetHindu pilgrims[1]
Attack type
Mass shooting
WeaponsM4 carbines
Deaths9
Injured41
PerpetratorsLashkar-e-Taiba (Claimed by Jammu and Kashmir Police)
Part of a series on
Violence against Hindus
in independent India
Issues
Incidents

The 2024 Reasi attack was a militant attack that occurred on 9 June 2024 in the Reasi district of the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Several unidentified militants opened fire on a passenger bus transporting Hindu pilgrims from the Shiv Khori cave to Katra, causing it to lose control and plummet into a deep gorge,[2] followed by further firing at the crashed bus by the gunmen.[3] Nine people were killed in the attack, and an additional 41 were injured.[4]

The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the ambush[5] but later denied involvement,[6] while the Jammu and Kashmir Police believes that the ambush was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, of which the TRF is considered a front.[4]

Background

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The Jammu and Kashmir region, which both India and Pakistan claim fully but only exert partial administration, has been the pinpoint of a decades-long conflict between the two states. They have fought two wars over the territory since 1947. Since 1989, the conflict has devolved into an armed resistance against Indian control. India has claimed Pakistan of backing and harbouring the militants, which it denies.[7]

Eight civilians were killed in the territory in the first five months of 2024. Militant incidents in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division have risen over the past four years, with mainly security forces being targeted.[8]

Attack

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At approximately 6:15 p.m. on 9 June 2024, militants armed with firearms ambushed a 53-seater Yatri passenger bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in Teryath village, firing between 25 and 30 gunshots indiscriminately. The driver was struck by gunfire, causing them to lose control and plunge into a gorge.[9] Even after the bus crashed into the gorge, the firing continued.[3] Nine people, including a two-year-old and a 14-year-old, were killed and 41 were injured. The victims were from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.[7][4] At least ten victims had gunshot wounds,[10] and empty cartridges were recovered at the scene.[11][12] The ambush happened about an hour before Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister.[13]

Responsibility

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Three foreign militants and one suspected local, who acted as a lookout, partook in the ambush.[10] The gunmen reportedly used American-made M4 carbine assault rifles,[14] a rifle commonly used by Pakistani Special Forces.[15][16] The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the ambush but later denied involvement.[5] People's Anti-Fascist Front and Revival of Resistance, both offshoots of JeM, also denied involvement.[17] The Jammu and Kashmir Police stated that it believed the Lashkar-e-Taiba was responsible.[4] The actual perpetrators are yet to be determined by the Indian investigators. Fifty people were detained in relation to the ambush by the Reasi district police.[18] A local of Rajouri district was arrested on 19 June over allegations of sheltering the militants and acting as their guide.[19]

Aftermath

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A search and rescue operation was conducted following the ambush, during which security personnel and a military helicopter were dispatched.[20][21] Survivors were treated at nearby hospitals. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha announced a compensation of one million (10 Lakhs) Indian rupees for the dead and 50,000 rupees for the injured.[7]

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army, and Central Reserve Police Force launched a manhunt for the militants.[22][7] The search was concentrated around the Teryath-Poni-Shiv Khori area, and included unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), detection dogs, and village defence committees.[10] At least two of the militants are reportedly hiding in the upper region of Reasi, which is forested and could hamper search attempts.[14] The investigation of the ambush was transferred to the National Investigation Agency by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 17 June.[23]

Further attacks and incidents

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A series of fresh militant attacks has been taking place since December 2023, when militants killed four Indian soldiers.[24] Several armed encounters happened in the Jammu Division within days of the attack in Reasi. On 11 June, one civilian was shot at by a gunman in Kathua's Hira Nagar area, and a second encounter took place in Doda's Chattergala area, in which seven security forces' personnel were wounded.[25] A search operation was launched by security forces in Kathua, during which a gunfight broke out between them and militants, resulting in the deaths of a CRPF soldier and both of the militants. Several Pakistan-made items were found in the possession of the two militants, including ₹500 notes worth ₹1 lakh. They also possessed Pakistan-made chocolates, dry channa, stale chapatis, medicines, painkiller injections, two packs of A4 battery cells, and one handset with an antenna and two wires hanging from it. According to the police in Kathua, the militants had one M4 carbine and one AK-47 rifle.[24][26] Another encounter ensued on 12 June in Doda's Gandoh area, in which one policeman was injured.[27]

On 6 July, six militants were killed by security forces in twin gunfights in Kulgam district. Two soldiers lost their lives during the separate encounters.[28]

On 8 July, five Indian Army personnel, including a junior commissioned officer were shot dead, and as many were injured when militants ambushed an Army convoy on a rugged mountainous road in Kathua district.[29]

The Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid on July 14 along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district and killed three militants.[30]

On 15 June 2024, a gunfight broke during a search and cordon operation wherein four Army personnel including a cop (Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra and Sepoy Ajay Naruka) were gunned down in action in the Doda district, about 55km away from the Doda town. The attack was claimed by 'Kashmir Tigers', a shadow group of Pakistan-backed militant group JeM. According to the Army's 16 Corps, also known as White Knight Corps, contact with militants was established at about 9 pm when a heavy gunfight occurred.[31]

Reactions

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Local

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation after the attack, while Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha stated that Modi has told him to monitor the situation. President Droupadi Murmu said that she was anguished by the attack, and Union Minister Amit Shah vowed that the perpetrators would face "the wrath of the law".[32] Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale vowed to go to war with Pakistan if such attacks persisted.[33]

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the attack cowardly and said that he was deeply saddened by it.[34] Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge condemned it, and said that "[Modi's] chest-thumping propaganda of bringing peace and normalcy … rings hollow".[35]

Several political organizations condemned the attack, including All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Communist Party of India (Marxist).[36][37] A number of Muslim parties also joined in condemning it. The Indian Youth Congress held a candle march for the victims, while several anti-Pakistan protests broke out across the Jammu division.[33][10]

Media

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Several Indian celebrities condemned or voiced condolences over the attack, including Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao, Preity Zinta, Rakul Preet Singh, Raai Laxmi, Esha Gupta, Bipasha Basu, Atlee, Varun Tej, Riteish Deshmukh, Sudhanshu Pandey, Urfi Javed, Anupam Kher, Soni Razdan, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, and Aly Goni.[38][39]

Pakistani reaction

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Pakistani cricketer Hasan Ali and his wife Samiya condemned the militant ambush, by posting a story on Instagram with an AI-generated image, with added text saying "All Eyes on Vaishno Devi Attack".[40] The post went viral[41] and social media reactions to Ali's post were mixed, winning loads of praises from Indians[42] and receiving negative reactions from Pakistanis.[43] Ali responded to the reactions by posting a second story on his Instagram, maintaining his stance,[44] and stating that he always stands for peace.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Zargar, Arshad R. (10 June 2024). "Militants attack bus in India-controlled Kashmir, kill 9 Hindu pilgrims, police say - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  2. ^ Khajuria, Ravi Krishnan. "9 killed, 33 injured as terrorists ambush bus carrying pilgrims in J&K's Reasi".
  3. ^ a b "Reasi Terror Attack: Survivors' chilling accounts of playing dead to survive". The Economic Times. 10 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Reasi bus attack: J&K Police release sketch of terrorist, announce Rs 20 lakh for information". Business Today. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Pak-backed Lashkar front claims responsibility for J&K bus terror attack". India Today. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Reasi terror attack: Terror groups claim responsibility, backtrack later". The Deccan Herald. Press Trust of India. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "Jammu and Kashmir: 10 Hindu pilgrims killed in bus attack in Reasi". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  8. ^ "'Reasi attack marks a shift in terrorist activities'". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  9. ^ "9 killed, 33 injured as terrorists open fire at bus carrying pilgrims in J&K's Reasi". Hindustan Times. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Ashiq, Peerzada (10 June 2024). "Non-local LeT ultras behind Reasi bus attack, say official sources". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  11. ^ "9 Hindu pilgrims dead after militant attack in India's Kashmir, police say". South China Morning Post. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  12. ^ Ashiq, Peerzada (9 June 2024). "Reasi bus accident: Nine pilgrims killed as their bus comes under fire in Jammu". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  13. ^ "How terror struck a pilgrim bus in Reasi an hour before PM Modi's oath ceremony". The Economic Times. 10 June 2024.
  14. ^ a b "3 Foreign Terrorists, US-Made M4 Rifles In Reasi Terror Attack: Sources". NDTV. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Pakistan Army". Archived from the original on 13 May 2013.
  16. ^ "U.S. Army Weapon Systems Handbook 2012" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  17. ^ ""Heinous act": Kashmiri militant groups distance themselves from Reasi terror attack". Maktoob media. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  18. ^ "'Significant Leads' Found In Reasi Terror Attack, 50 People Detained". The Times of India. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  19. ^ Sharma, Arun (20 June 2024). "'Sheltered militants, acted as guide': First arrest in Reasi attack". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Terrorists open fire on bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu-Kashmir; 10 dead, 33 injured". WION. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  21. ^ "10 killed, over 30 injured after terrorists open fire at bus carrying pilgrims in J&K". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Nine Hindu pilgrims dead in India's Jammu after militant attack, police say". Reuters. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  23. ^ Devesh K. Pandey (17 June 2024). "Union Home Ministry hands over Reasi terror attack case to NIA". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  24. ^ a b Ashiq, Peerzada (12 June 2024). "CRPF jawan and two militants killed, seven security personnel injured in three Jammu encounters". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  25. ^ "2 Terrorists Killed In Encounter In Jammu And Kashmir's Kathua". NDTV. 12 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Kathua terror attack: Pakistan-made items found from terrorists' bodies". Hindustan Times. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Jammu and Kashmir: Fresh encounter underway in Doda, fourth terror clash in 3 days". Livemint. 12 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Captain, 3 other Army personnel killed in gunfight with terrorists in J&K's Doda". India Today. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Captain, 3 other Army personnel killed in gunfight with terrorists in J&K's Doda". India Today. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Captain, 3 other Army personnel killed in gunfight with terrorists in J&K's Doda". India Today. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  31. ^ "Captain, 3 other Army personnel killed in gunfight with terrorists in J&K's Doda". India Today. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Nine killed, 33 injured as bus falls into gorge in J&K after terrorists open fire; PM Modi, Amit Shah review situation". Financialexpress. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  33. ^ a b "'Have to start war with Pak if…': Union minister says Reasi terror attack was 'deliberate'". Hindustan Times. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Reasi Terror Attack: What happened? Deaths, terrorist group, police action, survivor's account - JK: Terrorists open fire at pilgrims". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  35. ^ "At least nine killed after attack on bus in Indian-administered Kashmir". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  36. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (10 June 2024). "Reasi terror attack exposes BJP's claim of peace in Kashmir: Congress". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 June 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  37. ^ "Jammu and Kashmir terror attack: Reasi terror attack: Hurriyat condemns attack". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Vaishno Devi attack: All Eyes On Reasi trends on social media as outrage grows over terrorist attack on Vaishno Devi pilgrims". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Reasi terrorist attack: Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, Aly Goni and other celebs condemn the attack on pilgrims". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  40. ^ Singh, Aakash (12 June 2024). "'All Eyes On Vaishno Devi': Pakistan's Hassan Ali Condemns Terrorist Attack On Hindu Pilgrims In J&K's Reasi". The Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  41. ^ Banerjee, Ankit (12 June 2024). "Hasan Ali's 'All Eyes On Vaishno Devi' Instagram Post Goes VIRAL Amid Reasi Terror Attack". India.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  42. ^ Jha, Anuja (13 June 2024). "Pak cricketer's Insta story on Reasi terror attack wins praises from Indians". India Today. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  43. ^ Rai, Prakash (13 June 2024). "Pakistanis bombard Hassan Ali with death threats for criticising Vaishno Devi terror attack". MensXP. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  44. ^ a b "'Every human life matters': Hassan Ali speaks out after criticism over condemnation of Reasi attack". Dawn Images. 13 June 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
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