JKNS DESK
Srinagar, Oct 18 (JKNS): The alleged stone-pelting attack on a Kashmir-bound passenger bus in Haryana has triggered widespread condemnation across Jammu and Kashmir, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, political leaders, religious figures and transporters calling for the identification of those responsible, strict legal action and adequate safety for Kashmiri travellers.
A bus operated by Kashmir-based Star World Ventures was allegedly attacked by unidentified persons while travelling from Delhi to Srinagar. According to details available with news agency JKNS, the bus had stopped near Divine Star Dhaba when some persons allegedly abused the driver before pelting stones at the vehicle, damaging its window glass. Around 40 passengers were reportedly on board, and an elderly Kashmiri passenger was said to have been injured.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the incident unfortunate and urged the Haryana government, led by Nayab Singh Saini, and Haryana Police to identify the culprits and take action to ensure such incidents are not repeated. The Chief Minister’s Office said the matter had been taken up with the Haryana government, conveying concern over the safety and well-being of passengers. It added that the Haryana administration had assured prompt and stringent action in accordance with law, while the J&K Government was standing with the affected passengers and closely monitoring the situation.
National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar condemned the incident, describing it as an alleged hate crime. In a post on X, he said stones and bricks were pelted at the J&K-registered bus near Kurukshetra, leaving an elderly Kashmiri man injured and families on board helpless and terrified. He urged Haryana Police to take cognisance of the incident, identify those involved and initiate action against them.
PDP leader Waheed Parra also condemned the attack, saying a Delhi-Srinagar sleeper bus had been targeted with bricks while passengers were asleep. He said an elderly Kashmiri passenger was left bleeding and alleged that reports suggested police had targeted passengers instead of the attackers. Parra called for arrests and accountability, expressing concern that hatred was making ordinary Kashmiris feel unsafe.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone strongly condemned the incident, calling it disturbing and saying that targeting a vehicle carrying ordinary citizens and injuring an elderly passenger must not go unchallenged. Describing the attack as an act driven by hatred against Kashmiris, he expressed hope that the matter would be treated seriously and those responsible punished.
National Conference Rajya Sabha MP Chowdry Ramzan also termed the stone-pelting on a J&K-registered bus deeply unfortunate and unacceptable. He called upon Haryana Police to take immediate cognisance, identify those responsible and ensure strict legal action, stressing that no person should be targeted, harassed or intimidated because of their place of origin.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed concern over the attack, saying the incident had left an elderly passenger injured and others traumatised. He also referred to reports of threats against J&K-registered vehicles and called upon the authorities to ensure the safety of Kashmiri travellers and take swift legal action against those responsible.
Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi called upon the Haryana government to ensure a prompt and impartial investigation into the reported attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
BJP spokesperson in J&K Zorawar Singh Jamwal described the incident as a law-and-order issue and urged the authorities to take action against those responsible. He also called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure the safety of migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K Students association national convennor Nasir Khuehami wrote on X, “A passenger bus travelling from Delhi to Kashmir, was allegedly attacked by fringe and right wing elements with stones and bricks near Divine Star Dhaba in the Karnal area of Haryana at around 10:45 PM on Saturday, October 17. The attack reportedly took place while passengers were asleep, leaving the bus damaged and an elderly Kashmiri passenger injured. They damaged windows, tail lights, and broken glass scattered across the sleeping compartments, with large bricks reportedly hurled inside the bus. An elderly Kashmiri passenger sustained injuries and was left bleeding after the bus was allegedly attacked with stones and bricks.”
What is the fault of Kashmiris? Why should someone fear for their life simply because their vehicle bears a Jammu and Kashmir registration number? , he asked.
More disturbingly, a Kashmiri passenger was reportedly detained by the police for nearly two hours following the incident and released later that night. The authorities must explain why a victim of the attack was detained without any apparent reason, while those responsible for the assault were seemingly allowed to walk free. We strongly condemn this reported attack and urge the @cmohry HCM @NayabSainiBJP to identify the perpetrators, register appropriate cases, ensure a fair investigation, and bring those responsible to justice. Harayana CM musy ensure that such incidents are not brushed aside or allowed to pass without accountability, Nasir said.
The hatred directed at Kashmiris cannot be normalised. No citizen of this country including Kashmiri should have to think twice before travelling through another state out of fear of being attacked because of their identity or place of origin. The right to travel safely, freely, and with dignity is fundamental to every Citizen of country, he added.
It is deeply saddening that some people appear to want Kashmir but struggle to accept Kashmiris. Such contradictions undermine the very idea of national unity that we claim to cherish. Love for a region cannot be separated from respect for its people. Kashmiris cannot be expected to feel a sense of belonging when their fellow citizens are subjected to hostility, humiliation, or violence simply for being Kashmiri, he wrote.
Nasir said that, India’s unity cannot be built through slogans alone. It must be reflected in how its people treat one another. The Constitution guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination on grounds including place of birth. Kashmiris are students, workers, traders, professionals, and families who travel across India to study, earn a livelihood, and build their futures. They deserve protection, not suspicion; solidarity, not hostility; and justice, not intimidation.
An attack on a Kashmiri is not merely an attack on an individual; when driven by prejudice, it is an attack on the values of equality, fraternity, and constitutional citizenship. The perpetrators must be held accountable. The injured passengers deserves justice, the affected families deserve reassurance, and every Kashmiri travelling through Haryana and other states must be able to do so without fear. Kashmiris are citizens of this country. Their safety, dignity, and belonging are not negotiable, he said.
Kashmir Transporters Federation president Mir Mohammad Shafi also condemned the reported attack and demanded an impartial probe. Expressing concern over the incident, Shafi said transporters were deeply distressed by the reports and questioned whether Kashmiris were being prevented from earning their livelihood outside the Union Territory. He called upon the governments of Haryana and Delhi to address the concerns surrounding the safety of Kashmiri transport operators and passengers.
The identity of those involved in the incident had not been officially established at the time of filing this report. The police version was awaited. (JKNS)
