Amid the escalating terror-related tensions in the Union Terriroty of Jammu and Kashmir, the police on Thursday detained fifty people in connection with the probe into the terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district on Sunday, news agency PTI reported citing police officials.
In order to ensure a comprehensive investigation, the search operation to track down the terrorists, has been expanded to cover far-flung areas of Arnas and Mahore in the Reasi district that were terrorist hotbeds between 1995 and 2005.
A police spokesperson stated cofirmed the detention of 50 suspects in connection with the Reasi attack, and added that the detentions were made following an "extensive investigation".
Search Ops Expanded To Reasi's Far-Flung Areas Of Arnas & Mahore
"Significant leads have been uncovered, aiding in the identification and capture of those who may be potentially involved in orchestrating the attack. To ensure a comprehensive probe, search operations have been expanded to cover the far-flung areas of Arnas and Mahore," PTI quoted the spokesperson as saying.
He also stated that these search operations are targetted towards uncovering further evidence and apprehending terrorists who might possibly be hiding in remote regions.
"The law enforcement agencies are committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors in the area," the spokesperson told PTI.
The development comes as the police in the Valley released a sketch of one of the terrorists suspected to be involved in the Reasi attack.
A cash reward of Rs 20 lakh was also announced for any information that might help in the neutralisation of the culprits.
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On Sunday, terrorists opened fire on a 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The bus was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra from the Shiv Khori temple.
Following the gunfire, the bus had plunged into a deep gorge, killing nine people and injuring 41. These pilgrims hailed from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.
Mohita Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, has urged people to stay vigilant and report to the authorities immediately in case they notice any suspicious activity.