Stones, bricks smash bus windows; elderly Kashmiri elderly passenger injured
Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Oct 18 : A Jammu and Kashmir-registered bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar was attacked in Haryana late Saturday night, with stones and bricks pelted at the vehicle, smashing its windows and leaving an elderly Kashmiri passenger injured.
The bus, operated by Star World Ventures, was travelling towards Srinagar and had stopped near Divine Star Dhaba in Karnal around 10:30 pm when the incident took place. Around 40 passengers were reportedly aboard the vehicle.
Adil Bhat, owner of Star World Ventures, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the driver informed him about the incident after a group of men arrived in a car and allegedly entered into an altercation with him.
Bhat said that the men abused and assaulted the driver before leaving the spot. He said they later returned on motorcycles and allegedly pelted the bus with stones, damaging its windows, while some passengers had stepped out during the halt.
Bhat said, the group returned for a third time and threatened that Jammu and Kashmir-registered vehicles would not be allowed to operate in Haryana. “This is Haryana. Kashmir-registered vehicles will not be allowed to operate here,” Bhat quoted the men as telling the driver.
He further alleged that a confrontation followed, after which police took some passengers into custody on allegations that they had attempted to attack the police. The passengers were later released, while the driver was asked to leave the area, he said.
A video purportedly showing the damaged bus and passengers describing the incident has also surfaced. In the video, a person alleges that the driver was assaulted, the bus windows were smashed with bricks and threats were issued against J&K-registered vehicles.
The person also questions the police action, alleging that some passengers were taken into custody following the confrontation.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the incident as unfortunate and urged the Haryana government and police to identify those responsible and take action.
“This unfortunate incident should never have taken place. I hope the Haryana government led by @NayabSainiBJP ji & @police_haryana catch the culprits & take action to ensure these things don’t happen again,” Omar Abdullah wrote on X.
In a subsequent update, the Chief Minister’s Office said the matter had been taken up with the Haryana government, conveying concern over the safety and well-being of the passengers. “The Haryana administration has assured prompt and stringent action in accordance with the law,” the CMO said, adding that the J&K Government stood with the affected passengers and was closely monitoring the situation.
National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar also condemned the incident, describing it as an alleged hate crime.
PDP leader Waheed Parra also condemned the incident. “A Delhi–Srinagar sleeper bus was attacked with bricks in Kurukshetra while passengers slept. An elderly Kashmiri was left bleeding. Disturbingly, reports suggest police targeted passengers instead of the attackers,” Parra wrote on X.
“Hate is making ordinary Kashmiris unsafe. We demand arrests and accountability,” he added, tagging Haryana Police and other authorities.
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Jammu and Kashmir president Vivek Bali also condemned the alleged attack on Kashmiri passengers, expressing concern that such incidents could undermine the country’s image of diversity, unity and hospitality.
Grand Mufti J&K Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi also called upon the Government of Haryana to ensure a prompt and impartial investigation into the reported attack on a sleeper bus travelling towards Jammu & Kashmir and bring those responsible to justice.
The identity of those involved in the incident had not been officially established at the time of filing this report. The police version is also awaited.—(KNO)
