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A private bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra was attacked by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Sunday evening. The bus was fired upon, causing it to plunge into a gorge, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine people, including the driver and teenage conductor.
The bus owner, Sujan Singh, has called for the driver, Vijay Kumar, and the conductor, Arun Kumar, to be declared martyrs. He believes that Vijay Kumar deliberately crashed the bus to save the lives of the passengers, as he was the first to be hit by a bullet.
Vijay Kumar had been working with Sujan Singh for six years and was described as a gentle and always smiling individual. He is survived by his wife and two small children. Arun Kumar had joined the transport company just a few days before the attack and was the only brother to two sisters in a poor family.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced an ex gratia relief of ₹10 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims and ₹50,000 to each injured.
This tragic incident has highlighted the ongoing threat of terrorism in the region and the sacrifices made by ordinary individuals to protect others. The families of the victims deserve our deepest condolences and support.
Source: Reasi attack: Bus owner wants ‘martyr’ status for driver, teenage conductor