The terrorists who killed nine Hindu pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi last month paid a local cattle trader for help in the attack, according to a report.
On June 9, terrorists fire on a bus carrying pilgrims at Pouni locality in Reasi. The bus was going to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Jammu region. They first shot the driver who lost control of the vehicle. Then, the out-of-control bus fell into a gorge. Nine people were killed and more than 40 were injured.
The investigation of the Reasi was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Now, The Indian Express has reported that three terrorists involved in the attack took help from a local cattle trader, Hakam Din, and paid him Rs 5,000 for his services. He was arrested by the police on June 20 and, before the case was handed over to the NIA, the police had described him as a “prime militant associate”.
Local helped terrorists with logistics & recce: Report
Terrorists sought food and help in reconnaissance from Din in the run-up to the attack in Reasi, according to The Express.
The report said that they paid Din Rs 5,000 after the attack. With Din’s help, the investigators have prepared the sketch of the three terrorists involved.
A source told the newspaper that the three terrorists knocked on Din’s door around 5:30 pm on June 1 and told him to prepare food for three people and bring it to their lair in the forest. He said that Din heard one of the three terrorists being referred to as “Manzoor Bhai”.
On June 7, the terrorists visited Din and took him along for reconnaissance of the sight of the attack, said the source.
The source further said that they were at the site for around three and a half hours and assessed various locations for mounting the attack. The source said
“They sat in different spots to pick a strategic location for the attack, and to identify the slope of the road where the vehicle would slow down. They marked these locations before leaving. They also asked Hakam about the movement of tourist buses,” said the source to the paper.
On June 8, the terrorists visited Din’s house and discussed their plot over tea.
On June 9, the terrorists carried out the attack, following which the terrorists paid Rs 5,000 to Din to escape, as per the source.
String of attacks in Jammu region
The attack in Reasi coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers on June 9.
The attack was followed by two more attacks in the next two days in Jammu region’s Kathua and Doda districts. At least three casualties were reported in the attack.
Then, earlier this week on Monday, five Indian Army soldiers were killed in an ambush in Machedi area of Kathua.
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Terrorists who killed pilgrims in Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi paid local for help, says report
