The Jammu and Kashmir BJP, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) and Kashmir’s chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday condemned the stone-throwing attack on a Srinagar-bound sleeper bus in Haryana’s Karnal district, demanding strict action against those responsible and measures to ensure the safety of Kashmiri travellers.
The incident occurred around 11.30 pm on Saturday at the parking area of Divine Star Dhaba in Karnal. Two men allegedly threw stones at the bus following a dispute, damaging its windowpanes and seats. A passenger and a dhaba employee sustained injuries, police said.
According to Inspector General of Police (Karnal Range) Ashwin Shenvi, the bus was travelling from Delhi to Srinagar when it stopped at the dhaba’s parking area. Two youths from Yunispur village in Kurukshetra district arrived in a car and allegedly hit the bus while attempting to reverse and move ahead. The incident triggered a verbal altercation that escalated into a physical fight, with some passengers and dhaba employees also joining the confrontation, police said.
Police have registered an FIR and rounded up both men for questioning. The bus left for Srinagar around 1.30 am on Sunday, Shenvi said. He urged people to remain calm and maintain peace and harmony as the investigation proceeds. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his office had taken up the matter with the Haryana government, which assured prompt and stringent action in accordance with the law.
“The J&K Government stands with the affected passengers and is closely monitoring the situation,” Abdullah said in a post on X. BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur condemned the incident, saying that targeting people because of their Kashmiri identity was unacceptable.
“Such incidents are not acceptable in Modi’s India. Kashmiris deserve the same dignity, respect and hospitality in every part of the country as any other citizen. No one should be harassed, assaulted or humiliated because they come from Kashmir,” he said in a statement.
Thakur said Kashmiris were an integral part of India and must be able to travel, work and earn their livelihood anywhere in the country without fear or discrimination. He demanded an impartial investigation and strict legal action against those involved.
The Awami Ittehad Party, headed by Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also condemned the attack. In a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, AIP spokesperson Inam Nabi demanded the registration of an FIR, the arrest of those responsible and compensation for the damage caused to the bus.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed concern over the incident, saying an elderly passenger had been injured and others left traumatised.
“Disturbed to learn about the attack on a Kashmir bound bus in Haryana, leaving an elderly passenger injured and others traumatised. Reports of threats against J&K-registered vehicles are causing concern among people. Those in authority must ensure the safety of Kashmiri travellers and take swift and strict legal action against those responsible,” he said in a post on X.
The incident has prompted renewed calls from political leaders for the protection of Kashmiri travellers and strict action against those responsible for attacks on vehicles registered in Jammu and Kashmir.
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