JAMMU: In a massive development, a terror angle has reportedly emerged in the fire incident reported in Katra on May 14 wherein four Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims were killed.In the incident, it has now come to light that the bus full of pilgrims, heading towards Jammu from Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, was targeted by terrorists.A sticky bomb was used for the explosion in the vehicle, which claimed lives of 4 pilgrims while many others were injured, sources informed .The development comes after the Explosive Expert Unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had gone to the spot and carried out an investigation. The Unit led by a Senior Explosive expert in the said time had collected various samples from the site where the blast took place. Also, where the bus stopped after catching fire. The experts are studying the nature of the blast that occurred in the bus after which it caught fire.It is being said that in view of the terror angle now emerging, agencies have once again reached the spot, along with their forensic teams and are looking for more proofs.Earlier in an exclusive conversation with a national TV news channel, the victims had narrated the incident. One victim, Shiv Chaudhan, resident of Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur said,”Me and my wife as well as one of children were on the seat behind. I was in light sleep when a blast took place. I woke up to it and found everything burning.”Another victim, Kajal from Jammu’s Gorkhanagar said, “5-10 minutes after leaving from Katra, blast took place near Shani Dev Temple. I jumped off from running vehicle, many people were injured in it. Doctors helped us to get here in Ambulance.”Earlier, Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha had reacted to the incident. In a tweet, he had said, “Extremely pained by the loss of lives in the tragic bus incident in Katra. I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district administration to ensure the best possible treatment to the injured.”A specially trained NIA explosive team visited the spot around 3.30 PM on Saturday and collected samples during their one-and-a-half-hour stay, the officials said adding that the team was briefed by a senior police officer about the incident.Expressing grief over the incident, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to the seriously injured.The National Conference and the Congress have expressed shock and grief over the incident and demanded a probe.National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah also condoled the loss and prayed for fast recuperation of the injured.“It is expected that the concerned departments will depute a team to ascertain the causes behind the tragedy,” the former chief ministers said in a joint statement.J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma termed the incident as heart-wrenching and said that an in-depth investigation is needed.
