At least nine people were killed and 33 injured after suspected Islamic terrorists opened fire at a bus in the Reasi district of India-controlled Kashmir's Jammu province on Sunday.
According to the police, the bus, which lost control and fell into a deep gorge after its driver was hit, was carrying Hindu pilgrims to the base camp of the famed Hindu temple Mata Vaishno Devi
Instead of bringing peace, India's move to rescind the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir's autonomy and downgrade it to a union territory has revived terrorism in the region. This shameful incident accurately reflects the worrying security situation in an area widely considered militancy-free.
The attack is part of a nefarious design to spread unrest in Jammu & Kashmir after India successfully cracked down on militancy and separatist support systems in the region. It was likely a response by disgruntled terrorists to disrupt peace at a time when Narendra Modi was set to take oath as prime minister for a third straight term.