On the day that Narendra Modi took the oath for his third term as India’s Prime Minister, a horrifying attack took place on a bus in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
What Is The J&K Bus Attack?
On 9th June, a bus carrying 53 passengers most of whom were Hindu pilgrims for the Vaishno Devi yatra was attacked by militants carrying firearms.
The victims from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan were reportedly attacked by Islamist terrorists of The Resistance Front, a branch of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the militant group based in Pakistan which they also came forward to claim responsibility for.
The terrorists open-fired at the bus, striking the bus driver and making the bus drive into a deep gorge after losing control. 10 people, including two children, one a two-year-old and the other 14 years old were killed along with 33 others sustained injuries.
Mohita Sharma, Reasi senior superintendent of police (SSP) in a statement said, “Today, a group of militants attacked a Yatri bus coming from Ransoo area of district Reasi. Due to the attack, the driver of the bus lost control and the bus fell into a deep gorge near Kanda area of Pouni. Due to the accident, nine people died and 33 others injured.”
The Indian Police Service and Indian Army have started a manhunt for the attackers while other groups launched a search and rescue operation to find all the victims.
Along with this, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also announced compensations amounting to one million Indian rupees for the dead and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.
Writing on X/Twitter he said, “An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to be given to the next of kin of pilgrims martyred in Reasi terror attack. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000. The injured pilgrims are being treated at different hospitals in Jammu & Reasi.”
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team also reached the district to assist in the investigation into the attack.
A survivor of the attack Santosh (30) was quoted by TOI how the terrorists were masked, in combat fatigue, and fired indiscriminately standing in the middle of the road saying, “I could hear intermittent gunshots when the bus was rolling down the mountainside.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Reasi) Vishesh Paul Mahajan according to a report by The Hindu also revealed that 10 people have suffered gunshot injuries but are stable after getting surgery while “Eighteen injured are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College in Jammu, 14 at Narayana Hospital and nine at the district hospital in Reasi.”
Read More: Why Is The ‘All Eyes On Rafah’ Instagram Trend Problematic?
Among all the outrage regarding the attack, netizens are also bringing up how so many Indian celebs were posting about the viral “All Eyes On Rafah” image on their social media, but seem to be quiet now.
While the Palestinian cause is certainly important and it was good to see Indian celebs support against the genocide, many Indians are calling out the double standards of posting one viral image on their social media but staying silent about tragic incidents happening in our own country.
https://twitter.com/iArpitSpeaks/status/1800118449190117476
https://twitter.com/Mudiiittt/status/1800021135448535083
एक तरफ नरेंद्र मोदी जी का शपथ ग्रहण चल रहा था
दूसरी तरफ जम्मू कश्मीर के वैष्णो देवी में इस्लामी आतंकियों ने हिंदूओ का कल्लेआम कर दिया
10 हिंदू श्रद्धालुओं की मौत । #TerroristAttack
#AllEyesOnReasi #Terrorism pic.twitter.com/kQMg7mkdXY— Tanmay srivastav (लाला जी) (@Tanmay807676) June 9, 2024
Celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Tripti Dimri, and Richa Chadha, and more have shared viral images in support of Rafah but have not said anything regarding the attack on the bus in Reasi.
In light of this, people have taken to trending #AllEyesOnReasi to raise awareness about it not just from the celebs but politicians and officials too.
Since then though, some celebs have come forward to condemn or share sympathies with the families of the victim like actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Anand, and Anupam Kher.
Kangana Ranaut posting on her X/Twitter handle wrote, “I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack on the pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir. I pray for the departed and hope for the swift recovery of the injured. Om shanti.”
Varun posted on his Instagram stories writing, “Devastated by the horrific attack on innocent pilgrims in Reasi. I strongly condemn this cowardly terrorist act. Praying for the departed souls. My condolences to the victims and their families. Om Shanti.”
Director Siddharth Anand also posted on X/Twitter writing, “Despicable. Evil. Unpardonable. Innocent pilgrims. Children. Murdered by COWARDS. (broken heart emoji)” along with an image reading “All eyes on Vaishno Devi attack.”
Anupam Kher in his tweet wrote, “Angry, Pained and Saddened by the cowardly attack on pilgrims in Reasi. Jammu! May Almighty give the loved ones of victims the strength to bear the pain and loss. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Rashmika Mandanna also posted on her social media, writing, “Hurts my heart hearing about this, so many innocent lives lost. My heartfelt condolences to all the victims and their families. Praying for the speedy recovery of all those injured.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Hindu, The Economic Times, Hindustan Times
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: All eyes on Reasi, Jammu Kashmir terror attack, Reasi bus attack, Reasi terror attack, firing on bus, pilgrim bus attack, celebrities, bollywood, J&K bus attack, reasi bus terror attack, vaishno devi, vaishno devi pilgrims, Reasi, Reasi attack, reasi attack news, reasi bus accident
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