A preliminary inquiry by security agencies found that the Gujarat-registered bus carrying pilgrims returning from the Amarnath Yatra was the “target” of militants, who possibly came on motorcycles.
The bus was attacked twice within a distance of 75 metres with two groups of militants raining bullets on it from the front and right side. Seven from Gujarat were killed and 21 injured in the attack.
Exchange of fire
Hearing the gunshots, an armoured vehicle of the CRPF and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police rushed to the spot and an exchange of fire with the militants took place, a preliminary report of the CRPF said.
The militants then fled towards Arwani village, 1.5 km away, and before disappearing in the bylanes, opened fire on a CRPF camp at Hasanpura.
In a fresh report to the Home Ministry on Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir police said the attack was planned by Lashkar-e-Taiba “operation commander” Abu Ismail and he was supported by a Pakistani and two local militants.
The bus got a flat tyre between Pampore and Bijbehara. They stopped there for over an hour giving an opportunity to terrorists to plan the attack on the bus, teeming with tourists, said a senior Home Ministry official.
On the day of the attack, a police spokesperson said “terrorists initially attacked a police bullet-proof bunker at Botengoo. The fire was retaliated. Thereafter the terrorists fired on a police naka [check post] near Khanabal. The fire was retaliated and a tourist bus was hit by bullets in which about 18 tourists were injured. Among them six persons died while rest are being treated. The bus was on way to Jammu from Baltal and was not part of the convoy.”
CRPF Director General R.R Bhatnagar told The Hindu that the earlier reports of a check post being fired upon were “incorrect.” He said as it was dark and none of his men could see the terrorists or the vehicle they used.
The CRPF is the largest Central force deployed in the Valley for counter-insurgency operations and providing security to the Amarnath Yatra.
The Home Ministry has asked all the security agencies deployed in the Valley to implement “security plans with full vigour.”