An elderly Kashmiri passenger was injured after a luxury sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar was allegedly attacked with stones and bricks in Haryana late Saturday night.
The incident reportedly took place around 10:45 pm on October 17 near a roadside dhaba in the Kurukshetra area. The bus was travelling towards Srinagar when it stopped at the eatery.
According to reports, unidentified persons allegedly abused the driver before pelting the bus with stones and bricks. The attack damaged the vehicle’s windowpanes and tail lights, while an elderly passenger sustained injuries.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed broken windows, debris inside the bus and the injured passenger with blood on his face. The exact circumstances leading to the attack and the motive behind it remain unclear.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the incident and urged the Haryana government and police to identify those responsible and take action.
Abdullah said the incident should not have occurred and expressed hope that the authorities would apprehend those involved and ensure such attacks do not happen again.
Other political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir also condemned the attack, raising concerns about the safety of Kashmiri passengers travelling outside the Union Territory.
The alleged motive behind the incident has not been independently established. Claims that the bus was targeted because of its Jammu and Kashmir registration number remain unverified.