Back-to-back bus attack incidents in Haryana and Punjab alarm Kashmiri travellers

Two buses carrying passengers to Kashmir were allegedly attacked with stones in separate incidents in Haryana and Punjab over two days, raising concerns about the safety of Kashmiri travellers.

The incidents came amid protests in south Kashmir’s Kokernag following the recovery of the body of Aijaz Ahmad Dar, a labourer who had gone missing in Punjab several weeks ago. His family alleged that he was murdered and demanded an investigation.

Passengers alleged that unidentified men pelted stones at a Srinagar-bound private sleeper Volvo bus in Punjab late on Sunday night, damaging the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

A day earlier, another bus operated by the same company was attacked with stones and bricks at a dhaba in Haryana, leaving two people injured.

Ishfaq Ahmad, the driver of the bus allegedly attacked in Punjab, said passengers, including women and children, were asleep when stones struck the vehicle.

“The attack triggered panic but, thank God, all are safe,” he said.

Ahmad said the passengers approached police, who escorted the bus for several kilometres.

The two incidents have raised concerns about the safety of Kashmiri travellers, although Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini said the attack in his state stemmed from a parking dispute between two drivers.

Saini’s clarification followed Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah’s intervention,
seeking action against those responsible for the Haryana incident.

“The safety of every citizen and every person visiting the state is our utmost priority,” Saini wrote on X.

He said police had registered an FIR and arrested two accused.

“The police investigation has revealed that this altercation occurred merely over a parking dispute between two vehicle drivers,” he added.

However, the driver of the bus attacked in Haryana alleged that the assailants had called him a “terrorist” after noticing the vehicle’s Jammu and Kashmir registration number.

Condemning the incident, Omar urged the Haryana government to ensure that such attacks did not recur.

“This unfortunate incident should never have taken place,” he wrote on X, expressing hope that the perpetrators would face action.