Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned an alleged stone-pelting attack on a sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district, urging the state government and police to identify those responsible and take strict action.
The incident reportedly occurred when the luxury bus, registered in Jammu and Kashmir and operated by private tour company Star World Ventures, stopped near Divine Star Dhaba in Kurukshetra. Stones and bricks were allegedly thrown at the vehicle, causing panic among passengers travelling on the route.
According to reports circulating on social media, an elderly Kashmiri passenger sustained an injury to his nose during the incident. Other passengers, including families, were reportedly left frightened by the attack.
The circumstances surrounding the incident and the identities of those allegedly involved have not been independently established.
Abdullah reacted to a social media post by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Imran Nabi Dar, who had raised concerns about the alleged attack and described it as a possible hate crime.
Calling the incident unfortunate, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister urged the Haryana government, led by Nayab Singh Saini, and the Haryana Police to take appropriate action.
In a post on X, Abdullah said, “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.”
His statement called for accountability and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The alleged attack took place while the bus was travelling from Delhi towards Srinagar. Reports indicate that the vehicle was targeted with stones and bricks near Kurukshetra, although further details about the sequence of events remain unclear.
An elderly Kashmiri passenger reportedly suffered a nose injury. The incident also caused distress among other travellers, who were on board the sleeper bus during its journey.
The bus was reportedly carrying passengers, including families, when the incident occurred. No further verified details about the extent of the damage to the vehicle or additional injuries were immediately available.
The alleged attack has drawn attention to the safety of passengers travelling on inter-state routes. Abdullah's appeal places the focus on the Haryana authorities' response and the need to establish the circumstances behind the incident.
While the incident has prompted allegations of a possible hate crime on social media, the motive behind the alleged stone-pelting has not been independently confirmed.
Further details are awaited regarding any police investigation, identification of suspects or official statements from the Haryana government.