English
English
English
A Srinagar-bound bus operated by Star World Adventures was allegedly attacked with stones in Haryana’s Karnal district. (Img: X)
Srinagar: A bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar was allegedly attacked with stones in Haryana’s Karnal district on Saturday night, leaving passengers injured and the vehicle extensively damaged. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken up the matter with the Haryana government, seeking action against those responsible and assurances regarding the safety of passengers.
The incident has triggered sharp reactions from political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, several of whom have described the alleged assault as a hate crime targeting Kashmiris. The Haryana Police, however, have attributed the confrontation to a parking dispute, stating that the two sides reached a compromise and no First Information Report (FIR) was registered.
The bus, operated by Star World Adventures and bearing a Jammu and Kashmir registration number, had stopped near Divine Dhaba in Karnal at around 10.30 pm on Saturday. According to the bus operator, a group of four men initially objected to the vehicle being parked near their car.
Aadil Ahmad Bhat, the bus operator’s owner, alleged that the men subsequently entered the bus and assaulted the driver. Although they left after other passengers intervened, they allegedly returned later on motorcycles and pelted the vehicle with stones.
The attack reportedly shattered several windowpanes and damaged the rear windshield. Four passengers sustained injuries, including an elderly man who was hit on the nose, according to the operator.
Bhat further alleged that the attackers threatened to prevent the bus from operating because it was associated with Kashmir. He also claimed that the vehicle’s registration number plate was removed during the confrontation.
The bus passengers subsequently questioned the police response, alleging that the authorities took one of them into custody instead of acting against the alleged attackers. The passenger was later released, Bhat said.
Butana police station SHO Vipin Kumar offered a different account, stating that the incident arose from a parking-related disagreement. According to him, two occupants of the car were allegedly under the influence of alcohol, while a passenger on the bus had also consumed alcohol. He said the elderly passenger’s injuries were caused when a broken portion of the bus’s mirror struck him after a brick hit the mirror.
Reacting to the incident, Abdullah described it as unfortunate and said his office had raised the matter with the Haryana government. In a statement posted on X, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister’s Office said the government had conveyed its concerns over the safety and well-being of the affected passengers. The Haryana administration had assured prompt and stringent action in accordance with the law, the statement added.
Peoples Democratic Party leader Waheed Para condemned the incident, demanding accountability and action against those responsible. He alleged that the episode reflected growing hostility towards ordinary Kashmiris travelling outside the Union Territory.
Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone also criticised the alleged attack, saying that violence against civilians because of their regional identity could not be allowed to go unchallenged. He called for a serious investigation and appropriate punishment for those found responsible.
Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed concern over reports of threats against vehicles registered in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the authorities to ensure the safety of Kashmiri travellers and initiate prompt legal action against those involved. The incident has renewed concerns over the security of passengers travelling between Delhi and Srinagar. The bus was expected to reach Srinagar on Sunday night.
