2 injured after stones thrown at school bus

Two schoolchildren were injured after the bus they were travelling in was stoned by unidentified miscreants in Shopian on Wednesday, evoking outrage from regional political parties and the civil society in the Kashmir Valley. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the perpetrators “will face action.”

“Miscreants threw stones on the school bus, resulting in injuries to Class 2 student Rehan Gorsai. He has been shifted to SKIMS Hospital in Srinagar with a head injury. It’s complete madness how stone-pelters are targeting schoolchildren. These criminals will face the law,” Director-General of Police S.P. Vaid said.

The bus of Rainbow International School, carrying over 30 students, was attacked with stones near Zavoora in Shopian in the morning. A police official said Shopian was volatile, with stone-pelting reported from parts of the district for the past three days, after a civilian caught in the cross-fire between militants and security forces died a few days ago.

“Shocked and angered to hear of the attack on a school bus in Shopian. The perpetrators of this senseless and cowardly act will be brought to justice,” said Ms. Mufti.

Former chief minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter:. "These attacks deserve our unequivocal condemnation. The amnesty granted to stone-pelters was meant to encourage more reasonable behaviour but some of these goons are determined to use the opportunity given to them to just pelt more stones.”

Congress also condemned the attack. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA, Shopian, Sheikh Abdul Rashid appealed students to make education their priority and restrain from targeting their own colleagues. MLA Rashid’s house was attacked with a petrol bomb earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, separatist Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani said the bus “was targeted by some unscrupulous elements”. “People need to demonstrate mature thinking and follow discipline. I am dismayed by the incident,” said Mr. Geelani.

Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, "Those who indulge in such hooliganism should realize that these actions tarnish our movement and provide an opportunity to our adversary to defame."