At least nine people were killed and 33 injured when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims plunged into a deep gorge after a suspected militant attack in the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said.
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The Himalayan region, which is also claimed by Pakistan, has been roiled by militant violence since the start of an anti-Indian insurgency in 1989. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, although violence has tapered off in recent years.
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“Militants ambushed the bus and fired at it indiscriminately. The bus fell into a gorge, leading to the death of 9 pilgrims, and 33 are injured,” said Mohita Sharma, district police chief of Reasi.
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The last major attack on Hindu pilgrims region happened in 2017 when a bus was targeted, killing eight people.
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Sunday’s attack comes a day after police chief RR Swain said the number of local militants in the territory was dropping but 70-80 foreign militants remained active.
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The injured have been moved to nearby hospitals and a search for the attackers has been launched, police said in a statement.
A state official earlier said at least 10 pilgrims were feared dead.
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First Published: Jun 09 2024 | 9:02 PM IST
