SRINAGAR, Oct 18: Arrests have been made in connection with the alleged attack on a Delhi-Srinagar passenger bus carrying Kashmiri travellers in Haryana, with more arrests expected shortly, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Sunday, quoting an assurance conveyed by the Haryana Chief Minister’s Office.
The Association said, it had taken up the matter with the Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) and the Chief Minister’s Office, seeking strict action against those responsible for the attack in Karnal, in which an elderly passenger sustained injuries.
Rajeev Jaiteley, Media Adviser to the Haryana Chief Minister, informed JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami that the state government had taken serious note of the incident. He conveyed that the SSP Karnal had been directed to initiate strict action against the perpetrators, adding that arrests had already been made and further arrests were expected shortly.
Jaiteley also assured the Association that no one would be allowed to threaten, harass or harm Kashmiri people anywhere in Haryana.
JKSA welcomed the intervention of the Haryana government and the assurances regarding strict action, while urging the police to ensure a fair and impartial investigation and hold everyone responsible accountable.
The incident involved a Kashmir-based Star World Ventures bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar. According to details available with news agency JKNS, the bus had stopped near Divine Star Dhaba when unidentified persons allegedly abused the driver before pelting stones at the vehicle, damaging its window glass. Around 40 passengers were reportedly on board, and an elderly Kashmiri passenger was said to have been injured.
National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar condemned the incident, describing it as an alleged hate crime and saying that families travelling on the bus had been left terrified. PDP leader Waheed Parra also sought arrests and accountability, while Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone, NC Rajya Sabha MP Chowdry Ramzan, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Grand Mufti J&K Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi called for action against those responsible and adequate protection for Kashmiri travellers.
BJP spokesperson J&K Zorawar Singh Jamwal described the incident as a law-and-order issue and urged action against the perpetrators. Kashmir Transporters Federation president Mir Mohammad Shafi also condemned the attack and demanded an impartial probe, expressing concern over the safety of Kashmiri transport operators and passengers travelling outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The identities and further details of all incident and those involved and the full circumstances surrounding the incident are awaited.