Vijay Kumar, the 40-year-old driver of a bus carrying pilgrims, displayed remarkable bravery during a terrorist attack in Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir, on June 9. The bus, en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra from the Shiv Khori temple, came under fire from terrorists, leading to a deadly and chaotic situation. Vijay’s quick thinking and sacrifice saved numerous lives, even as he tragically lost his own.
The bus, carrying 53 passengers from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, was targeted by terrorists as it approached the Pouni area of Reasi district. The terrorists, believed to be from the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, ambushed the vehicle and opened fire. Vijay Kumar was the first to be hit. Still, in a remarkable act of courage, he managed to steer the bus away from the attackers and into a gorge, preventing the terrorists from entering the bus and executing further violence.
Sujan Singh, the owner of the bus, recounted Vijay’s bravery: “Vijay was like family to me…the gentlest, and always smiling. He had been working with me for about six years, and I believe that he deliberately plunged the vehicle into the gorge instead of stopping it on the road to prevent terrorists from killing all its occupants.” Eyewitnesses confirmed that Vijay was the first to be hit by a bullet but continued to drive to avert a larger catastrophe.
The bus fell into a gorge as Vijay lost control after being fatally shot. The conductor, 19-year-old Arun Kumar, also showed immense bravery but was killed in the attack. Nine passengers lost their lives, and 41 others sustained injuries. “The driver did well and sacrificed himself for the 40 passengers,” said Ranjit Singh, manager of the bus booking company. He recounted the attack, stating, “As soon as the bus left in the morning, we received a call at 5 o’clock that there had been firing on our vehicle…When we did a little investigation, we came to know that it was an attack by militants…Passengers told us that the militant got into the bus and told the driver to make the passengers deboard the bus. The driver sensed that the man was a militant. He refused to make the passengers deboard, he sped up the bus. As soon as he sped up the bus, the militant fired a bullet. The bus lost balance but the driver kept driving. When the driver didn’t stop, he (militant) shot him in the head and killed him…Then the conductor took hold of the steering. As soon as he did that, the militant shot 3-4 bullets at the conductor too. He killed them both. The bus lost balance and fell into a gorge.”
#WATCH | Reasi bus terror attack: Ranjit Singh, Manager of the Bus Booking Company whose bus came under attack, says, "The bus used to ply from Katra to Shiv Khori daily, booking occurred daily. But we had never thought that this could happen to our vehicle. We used to hear of… pic.twitter.com/biY8in2cfs
— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024
Vijay Kumar’s death leaves behind a grieving family, including his two young children. “His father Rattan Lal died over six months ago. To ensure that he returned home in the evening, I had asked him to drive on the Shiv Khori route instead of the Katra-Udhampur-Jammu road,” Sujan Singh shared, highlighting the tragic circumstances that now leave Vijay’s children without a parent.
The young conductor, Arun Kumar, joined the transport company just days before the attack. He was the sole brother to two sisters, adding to the heartbreaking loss his family now endures.
The Jammu & Kashmir administration has announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh each to the deceased’s next of kin and Rs 50,000 to each injured. The bodies of Vijay Kumar and Arun Kumar were cremated in their respective villages, Dasanoo-Rajbagh and Kandera-Katra, on June 10.
The Jammu and Kashmir police, alongside the National Investigation Agency (NIA), are investigating the attack. A sketch of one of the terrorists has been released, and a reward of Rs 20 lakh has been announced for any information leading to the capture of those responsible. Eleven police teams have been formed to pursue leads in this case.
As the community comes to terms with the attack, Vijay Kumar’s bravery stands as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of ordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances. His actions on that fateful day prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy.
Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences and emphasised the importance of security measures to protect civilians. The administration’s swift response and ongoing investigations aim to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of pilgrims and residents.
Reasi police have released a sketch and announced a reward of Rs. 20 lakhs for any information leading to the capture of the terrorist involved in the attack on a pilgrim bus in the Pouni area. The sketch was prepared based on detailed descriptions provided by eyewitnesses who were present during the attack.
Reasi Terror Attack | J&K: Reasi police release sketch and announce a reward of Rs. 20 lakhs for any fruitful information about the terrorist involved in the terror attack on the pilgrim bus in the area of Pouni.
The sketch of the a has been prepared on the disclosure and… pic.twitter.com/hTWvpmgphY
— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024
The Reasi police are appealing to the general public to come forward with any reliable information that could assist in identifying and apprehending the perpetrator. This call for public assistance underscores the critical need for community involvement in ensuring the safety and security of the region.
Anyone with pertinent information is urged to contact the Reasi police through the following numbers:
- SSP Reasi: 9205571332
- ASP Reasi: 9419113159
- DySP HQ Reasi: 9419133499
- SHO Pouni: 7051003214
- SHO Ransoo: 7051003213
- PCR Reasi: 9622856295
The police emphasize that all information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and the reward will be given for information that leads to the successful apprehension of the terrorist.
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