New Delhi, June 17 (HS). The Union Home Ministry has handed over the investigation of the recent terrorist attack on a passenger bus in Jammu and Kashmir to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This statement has been issued by the NIA today on Monday (June 17).
According to an NIA official, the investigation into the terror attack on a passenger bus in Jammu and Kashmir on June 9 has been handed over to the NIA. The decision was taken a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra in two consecutive meetings here. These meetings were called in the wake of the terror attack on the bus in Reasi district and some other terror incidents in the Union Territory.
It is noteworthy that on June 9, a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi fell into a deep gorge after an ambush by terrorists in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing nine people, including three women, and injuring 41. The terrorists opened fire on the 53-seater bus when it was going from Shiv Khodi temple in Katra to Mata Vaishno Devi temple.
After this, on June 11, terrorists opened fire on a joint check post of Rashtriya Rifles and Police in Chatergalla of Bhaderwah, while on June 12, a search party was attacked in Gandoh area of Doda district. Seven security personnel including a policeman were injured in this attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on June 13, where he directed authorities to deploy the “full range of counter-terrorism capabilities” after several terror incidents, including an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its decisive phase and recent events show that terrorism has been reduced from highly organised acts of violence to mere proxy warfare. He directed security agencies to implement area domination and zero-terrorism plans in Jammu division like in Kashmir to achieve success.
These review meetings were attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey, Army Chief-designate Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, BSF Director General Nitin Agarwal, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police RR Swain and other top security officials.