Attack on Kashmir-Bound Bus Raises Safety Concerns for Kashmiri Travellers and Drivers

Delhi–Srinagar Bus Attacked With Stones in Haryana; Elderly Kashmiri Man Injured

By: News Desk | 18 October 2026

Jammu and Kashmir Government takes up incident with Haryana; authorities assure action as the attack raises fresh concerns over the safety of Kashmiri passengers and transport workers travelling outside the Union Territory.

An elderly Kashmiri passenger was injured after a Jammu and Kashmir-registered sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar was allegedly attacked with stones and bricks in Haryana late Saturday night, leaving its windows damaged and passengers shaken.

The bus, operated by Kashmir-based Star World Ventures and carrying around 40 passengers, had stopped near Divine Star Dhaba in the Karnal–Kurukshetra area when the incident reportedly took place around 10:30–10:45 pm on October 17. Accounts published by local news outlets differ on the precise location, with reports placing the incident near Kurukshetra and others identifying the Karnal area.

The attack has prompted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek action from the Haryana government. The Chief Minister’s Office subsequently confirmed that the matter had been taken up with the Haryana administration, which assured prompt and stringent action in accordance with the law.

The alleged attackers have not been publicly identified, and the circumstances and motive behind the incident remain subject to investigation.

Sources: Kashmir Life | Kashmir Observer

What Happened Near the Roadside Dhaba?

According to accounts cited by Kashmir Observer, Adil Bhat, the owner of Star World Ventures, said the bus driver informed him that a group of men had arrived in a car and entered into an altercation with him during the halt.

Bhat alleged that the men abused and assaulted the driver before leaving the spot. They reportedly returned on motorcycles and pelted the bus with stones, damaging its windows. Some passengers had stepped outside the vehicle during the stop, according to the account.

The bus owner further alleged that the group returned again and threatened that vehicles registered in Jammu and Kashmir would not be allowed to operate in Haryana. These details have been reported as allegations attributed to the bus operator; they have not been independently established as a finding by police.

Footage circulating on social media purportedly shows broken windows and damage to the vehicle. An elderly passenger was reportedly injured, with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir expressing concern over the treatment of passengers travelling on the route.

The episode has raised questions about the safety of long-distance bus services connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, particularly when vehicles stop at roadside establishments during overnight journeys.

Omar Abdullah Seeks Action; Haryana Assures Response

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the reported attack and called on his Haryana counterpart, Nayab Singh Saini, and Haryana Police to identify those responsible and take action.

“This unfortunate incident should never have taken place,” Abdullah said in a post on X, expressing hope that the Haryana government would catch the culprits and take steps to prevent similar incidents.

In a subsequent update, the Chief Minister’s Office said it had raised the matter with the Haryana government, conveying concern about the safety and well-being of the affected passengers.

The CMO said the Haryana administration had assured prompt and stringent action under the law. It added that the Jammu and Kashmir Government stood with the affected passengers and was closely monitoring the situation.

The assurance marks an important administrative step, but the immediate questions remain: who was involved, what led to the confrontation, and whether the allegations of threats against Jammu and Kashmir-registered vehicles can be substantiated.

Political Leaders Condemn the Attack

The incident drew condemnation from leaders across Jammu and Kashmir’s political spectrum, with calls for accountability and a clear response from the Haryana authorities.

National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar described the incident as an alleged hate crime and urged Haryana Police to take cognisance of the matter, identify the perpetrators and initiate action. He said the incident had left families travelling on the bus frightened.

Peoples Democratic Party leader and MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra also condemned the attack, saying an elderly Kashmiri passenger had been left bleeding. Parra additionally alleged that police action had focused on passengers rather than the people who attacked the vehicle.

According to the account published by Kashmir Observer, the bus operator also alleged that some passengers were taken into custody following a confrontation with police and were later released. These claims concerning police conduct require clarification from the relevant authorities.

The allegations have added another dimension to the incident: alongside the need to identify those responsible for the stone-pelting, there are questions about how the situation was handled after the confrontation.

Safety of Kashmiri Passengers and Transport Workers Under Scrutiny

For passengers travelling between Delhi and Srinagar, long-distance bus services are an important road link between the national capital and the Valley. Such journeys often involve overnight travel and stops for food, rest and vehicle-related needs.

Drivers and other transport workers are also exposed to risks during these journeys. They may have to manage disputes, roadside confrontations and emergencies while responsible for the safety of dozens of passengers.

The Haryana incident has therefore raised concerns beyond the damage to a single vehicle. If the allegations of threats against Jammu and Kashmir-registered vehicles are substantiated, they would warrant a clear law-enforcement response to ensure that transport operators can travel and work without intimidation.

At the same time, the motive behind this particular incident has not been conclusively established. Political leaders have described it as a possible hate crime, but determining whether the attack was motivated by regional identity, a personal dispute or another cause requires evidence from the investigation.

The distinction matters. A prompt, transparent inquiry can establish what happened, identify those responsible and address concerns without allowing unverified claims to substitute for evidence.

Why the Incident Matters Beyond One Bus

The attack comes amid recurring concerns raised by Kashmiri students, workers, traders and travellers about their safety while living, studying or working outside Jammu and Kashmir. This incident alone does not establish a wider pattern, but the allegations have renewed demands for authorities to respond swiftly when Kashmiri people face threats or violence elsewhere in the country.

The concern is especially immediate for people whose livelihoods depend on road transport. Bus operators and truckers must be able to use highways, stop at roadside facilities and carry out routine commercial work without fear of violence. Passengers, meanwhile, need confidence that help will be available if a journey turns dangerous.

For state governments and police forces, the responsibility is both preventive and investigative: respond to complaints, protect people at risk, establish the facts and ensure that those responsible for offences face lawful consequences.

In the present case, the Haryana government’s reported assurance of action will need to be followed by a clear account of the investigation and any arrests or other legal steps.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority is to establish the sequence of events near the roadside stop, identify the people allegedly involved and determine the circumstances in which the elderly passenger was injured.

The reported allegations concerning the driver, threats against Jammu and Kashmir-registered vehicles and the handling of passengers by police also require clarification from the authorities.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said it is monitoring the situation after taking up the matter with Haryana. A transparent response from Haryana Police would help establish the facts and address the concerns raised by the affected passengers and transport operator.

For now, the attack remains a reported incident under scrutiny. Its broader significance will depend not on speculation about motive, but on whether the authorities establish what happened and ensure that passengers and transport workers can travel safely.

The central demand from Jammu and Kashmir’s leaders is clear: identify those responsible, investigate the allegations and take action under the law so that people travelling between the Valley and other parts of the country can do so without fear.