The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday made its first arrest in the Reasi terror attack case. The arrested man is accused of providing logistics to terrorists who attacked a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Police hailed this as a major breakthrough about 10 days after the incident.
Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police Mohita Sharma said the 45-year-old man, Hakamdin, was arrested for aiding the terrorists in executing the attack.
Police said the accused harboured the terrorists multiple times, acted as a guide, and helped them find food and shelter. He also assisted them in reaching the location of the incident. The police also added that he is a prime militant associate who aided in the execution of the attack.
In the June 9 terror attack in Reasi, a sniper shot the driver of the bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. As the driver lost control, the bus plunged into a deep gorge leaving nine people, including three women and a child, dead and 41 injured.
The 53-seater bus was ambushed when it was en route from Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra.
Among those killed in the attack were two-year-old Titu Sawhney and his mother Pooja from Rajasthan.
Following the attack, a joint operation was launched involving the police, the Army, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and central intelligence agencies.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but retracted its statement later.
Earlier, the J&K police released a sketch of a suspect and also declared a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information on those involved.
Union Home Minister chaired high-level meeting to review the security situation in Jammu in the wake of recent terrorist attacks he also directed security agencies to implement area domination and 'zero-terror' plans in the Jammu division like they did in Kashmir to achieve success.
Home Minister Shah directed the security agencies to work in mission mode and ensure quick responses in a coordinated manner. He also stressed seamless coordination among security agencies, identifying vulnerable areas and addressing security concerns in these areas.