Massive Manhunt Underway After J-K Bus Terror Attack; LG Reviews Security

In a significant development, authorities are currently engaged in an extensive search for three foreign terrorists, believed to be associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, following a deadly assault on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. This tragic incident resulted in the death of nine individuals, including a two-year-old child. The attack has prompted a high-level security review, led by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who also visited the injured in hospitals across Jammu and Reasi.

Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Udhampur-Reasi Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, disclosed that 11 teams comprising police, army, and CRPF personnel are actively pursuing leads on two different fronts to apprehend the assailants. The investigation has not dismissed the involvement of a fourth accomplice at the scene, potentially serving as a lookout.

The assault occurred on Sunday evening when terrorists targeted a 53-seater bus transporting pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. The attack forced the bus off the road and into a gorge near Teryath village in Reasi's Poni area, killing nine and injuring 41 passengers from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

A joint operation involving the police, Army, National Investigation Agency (NIA), and central intelligence agencies has been launched following the attack. Survivors are currently providing statements to aid the ongoing investigation, while security forces conduct a thorough search for the perpetrators. Several individuals have been detained for questioning.

The Resistance Front (TRF), considered a shadow group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit, initially claimed responsibility for this heinous act but later retracted its statement. Among the victims were two-year-old Titu Sawhney and his mother Pooja from Rajasthan, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this violence.

Security forces are concentrating their efforts in the mountainous terrains of Rajouri and Reasi, known for their challenging conditions such as dense forests and steep slopes which provide natural cover for terrorists. Despite these obstacles, 11 teams are working in coordination to neutralize the threat.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has strongly condemned the attack as an attempt to destabilize peace in Jammu and Kashmir. In response to this tragedy, the administration has announced ex gratia payments of Rs 10 lakh to families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah have been briefed on the situation, with assurances that justice will be served.

In his statements, Sinha emphasized the government's resolve to protect the region from such acts of terror. Additionally, he assured that those responsible for orchestrating this attack and those providing support would face severe consequences.

The separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference has also condemned the terror attack, reiterating its stance against violence targeting civilians. Meanwhile, anti-Pakistan protests have erupted across various parts of Jammu, including Katra and Doda town, with demonstrators calling for stringent security measures to thwart future attacks and demanding action against Pakistan for its alleged role in sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.