On a quiet Sunday evening in June 2024, the dense forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district became the backdrop for one of the most chilling acts of violence the region has seen in years. It wasn't just another headline. It was a 53-seater bus, filled with pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori cave shrine, targeted by terrorists who didn't care who was on board. Nine people died. Thirty-three others were left wounded, many of them children.
Terrorism is complicated, but this felt different. This wasn't a military skirmish or a political standoff in a city center. It was a deliberate strike on civilians in a supposedly "safe" area.
What Really Happened During the Reasi Bus Attack
The logistics of the attack on the bus were terrifyingly simple. Around 6:15 PM, as the vehicle navigated the winding roads of the Teryath village in the Poni area, gunmen opened fire from the treeline. They didn't just shoot at the tires to stop the vehicle; they aimed directly at the driver.
He was hit. He lost control.
The bus plunged into a deep gorge. That’s the detail that sticks with you—the sheer helplessness of being in a falling vehicle while bullets are still flying. Locals from nearby villages were the first to arrive, long before the sirens. They found a wreckage of twisted metal and shattered lives.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility, though they later tried to distance themselves when the civilian death toll sparked international outrage. It’s a classic, grizzly pattern. They want the "credit" for the strike but fear the optics of killing children and elderly pilgrims.
The Shift in Tactics
Security experts like former J&K Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid have noted a massive shift in how these groups operate. For years, the focus was on the Kashmir Valley. South of the Pir Panjal range—where Reasi is located—was considered relatively peaceful.
Not anymore.
💡 You might also like: When Are Senate Elections: Why the 2026 Cycle is Closer Than You Think
The mountains there are porous. The cover is thick. By moving operations to the Jammu division, attackers are forcing the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to spread their resources thin. It’s a tactical game of cat and mouse played out over some of the most difficult terrain on earth.
The Search for the "Foreign Terrorists"
Shortly after the attack on the bus, the NIA (National Investigation Agency) took over the probe. They weren't just looking for local sympathizers. Intelligence suggested a group of two to three highly trained "foreign terrorists"—likely from Pakistan—had been hiding in the upper reaches of the Rajouri and Reasi forests for weeks.
They had help.
The arrest of Hakam Din, a 45-year-old local resident, blew the case open. He wasn't a fighter. He was a guide. He provided food, shelter, and—most importantly—reconnaissance. He watched that road. He knew when the buses passed. He helped the gunmen pick the exact spot where the driver would be most vulnerable and the gorge most lethal.
It highlights a terrifying reality: you don't need an army to cause chaos. You just need a few motivated people with rifles and one person who knows the local shortcuts.
Why Reasi?
Reasi is home to the Vaishno Devi shrine, one of the most visited religious sites in India. Millions of people go there every year. By hitting a bus near Shiv Khori, the attackers were sending a message to the tourism and pilgrimage industry.
If people are afraid to travel, the local economy collapses.
If the economy collapses, resentment grows.
It’s a cycle. The Indian government responded by deploying over 11 teams of security forces and using drones and sniffer dogs to comb the jungle, but the "needle in a haystack" analogy has never been more accurate than in the Himalayan foothills.
✨ Don't miss: Sandra Day O'Connor: What Most People Get Wrong
Misconceptions About the Region's Safety
A lot of people think Jammu is "the safe part" of the state. That's a dangerous oversimplification. While the Valley gets the most media coverage due to its history of unrest, the Jammu division has become a new frontier for infiltration.
The terrain here is actually harder to patrol than the Valley. The forests are denser. There are fewer permanent army outposts in the deep interior. Terrorists are using this "blind spot" to set up base camps and launch ambushes before disappearing back into the caves.
Honestly, the intelligence failure here was significant. There were whispers of movement in the area days before, yet the bus didn't have an escort. Typically, high-risk convoys get a "road opening party" (ROP) to clear the way. This bus was on its own.
The Human Cost and the Aftermath
We talk about "casualties" and "numbers," but the reality is much messier. One of the victims was a two-year-old boy. Think about that for a second. A toddler on a family trip.
The survivors described a scene of absolute silence following the crash, broken only by the sound of more gunfire hitting the bus as it sat at the bottom of the gorge. The attackers wanted to make sure no one walked away.
In the weeks following, the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Amit Shah, ordered a massive crackdown. They moved more battalions into the Jammu region. They started a massive "sanitization" operation. But for the families of those nine people, the "security beef-up" came a day late and a dollar short.
📖 Related: American Government Roots and Reform: What Most People Get Wrong
What has changed since then?
Security isn't just about more boots on the ground anymore. It’s about tech.
- CCTV Saturation: The J&K administration has started installing high-definition cameras on all major pilgrimage routes, even the remote ones.
- Mandatory Escorts: During peak pilgrimage seasons, "cluster bus" systems are being implemented where vehicles travel in groups with a police lead.
- Village Defense Guards (VDGs): The government has revitalized the VDG program, arming local villagers with SLRs and .303 rifles so they can defend themselves until the army arrives.
How to Stay Safe While Traveling in Sensitive Zones
If you're planning a trip to Jammu, Reasi, or any high-altitude pilgrimage site, you can't just wing it like you’re going to a beach resort. You've gotta be smart.
First, always check the official travel advisories from the J&K Police. They frequently update which roads are closed or under heightened alert. Second, try to travel during daylight hours. Most ambushes happen during the "grey hours" of dawn or dusk when visibility for the driver is low but cover for an attacker is high.
Don't use unauthorized private transport for long hauls through forest patches. Stick to the government-approved JKSRTC buses or reputable tour operators who stay in radio contact with local checkpoints.
The attack on the bus was a tragedy, but it was also a wake-up call. The security paradigm has shifted from "containing the Valley" to "securing the hinterland." It's a long road ahead, literally and figuratively.
Essential Safety Steps for Travelers
- Avoid night travel on the Reasi-Rajouri-Poonch highway; most incidents occur after 6 PM.
- Register your movement at local police posts if you are traveling in a private vehicle without a guide.
- Stay updated via local radio or verified social media handles of the Jammu Police (@jammu_police) for real-time traffic and security diversions.
- Carry a satellite-linked GPS device or ensure you have an offline map, as cellular service is notoriously spotty in the gorges where these incidents occur.
The reality of 2024 and beyond is that security is a shared responsibility. The government can put a soldier every hundred meters, but the intelligence that stops an attack often starts with a local noticing something "off" and reporting it. Being aware of your surroundings isn't paranoia; in this part of the world, it's just common sense.