Kashmir-bound sleeper buses were targeted in two stone-pelting incidents in Haryana and Punjab within two days. PDP Youth leader Yasir Naik has demanded strict action against those responsible for the attacks. (Img: Dynamite News)
Srinagar: Two stone-pelting incidents involving sleeper buses travelling towards Srinagar within two days have raised concerns over the safety of passengers on routes connecting Kashmir with other parts of the country. PDP Youth leader Yasir Naik has strongly condemned the attacks, calling on the administrations of Haryana and Punjab to take strict action against those responsible and ensure that passengers can travel without fear or intimidation.
The incidents were reported in Karnal, Haryana, on October 17 and near Doraha in Punjab’s Ludhiana district on October 18. While a passenger and a roadside eatery employee were injured in the first incident, no injuries were reported in the second. The back-to-back attacks have brought passenger security, regional harmony and the accountability of law enforcement agencies into focus.
The first incident occurred on October 17 in Haryana’s Karnal district, where a Delhi-Srinagar sleeper bus was allegedly targeted with stones and bricks near a roadside dhaba. The attack left one passenger and an employee of the establishment injured. According to the information provided, members of the attacking mob were arrested at the scene.
A day later, a sleeper bus operated by Star World Ventures and travelling towards Srinagar was targeted near Doraha in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. A stone struck the bus window, but nobody was injured. Punjab Police provided security to the bus and began examining CCTV footage to identify those responsible. The two incidents have prompted calls for stronger security measures on routes used by Kashmir-bound passengers, particularly those travelling overnight by road.
Speaking to Dynamite News, PDP Youth leader Yasir Naik described the incidents as unacceptable and urged the administrations and police in Haryana and Punjab to ensure that passengers travelling to Jammu and Kashmir are not threatened.
Naik said the authorities must investigate both incidents thoroughly, identify the accused and ensure that those found guilty face strict legal action. He stressed that nobody should be permitted to take the law into their own hands or intimidate people travelling to their destinations.
The circumstances surrounding the Karnal incident have also drawn attention. The accused are reportedly facing proceedings following a disagreement over parking and giving way. However, the bus driver reportedly alleged that the attackers used anti-Kashmiri language.
These allegations require investigation, and the available information does not establish the motive behind both incidents. In Punjab, police are scrutinising CCTV footage as part of efforts to identify the perpetrators of the second attack.
Naik also questioned the response of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, arguing that public condemnations must be accompanied by effective measures on the ground.
He said the government must move beyond statements and ensure that the concerned authorities deliver tangible results. According to Naik, protecting passengers and holding perpetrators accountable should be the priority, and he indicated that the matter would be taken up with the relevant state administrations.
His remarks have added a political dimension to the incidents, with the focus shifting from condemnation to the question of what steps authorities will take to prevent similar attacks.
Naik emphasised that people travelling to Kashmir for employment, business or other purposes should be treated with dignity and respect. He pointed out that Kashmiris also travel to other states for work and commercial activities, making the safety of passengers a shared responsibility.
He called for peace, harmony and adherence to the law, warning against actions that could create divisions between communities or regions. He maintained that those responsible for violence must face the law, while people across states should continue to treat one another with respect.
The incidents have drawn political attention and raised concerns among those associated with passenger transport. The immediate priorities are to establish the circumstances of both attacks, identify the accused in the Punjab case and ensure appropriate legal proceedings in the Haryana case.
