Three Pakistani terrorists, believed to be involved in the attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on June 9, belonged to the same group that targeted an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch on May 4, sources told media.
According to sources, the terrorists travelled through the jungles after the Poonch attack. They then attacked the bus carrying pilgrims who were returning to Katra from Shiv Khori temple in Reasi, killing nine people and injuring 33 others.
The three terrorists are trained in jungle warfare, use US-made M4 carbines and can live in natural caves for days. They are said to be active in the region and security forces were investigating the involvement of others in the Reasi bus attack.
A massive manhunt operation was launched following the bus attack and five teams of security agencies from Reasi were trying to track down the Pakistani terrorists involved in the incident.
Security forces from three districts, Rajouri, Reasi and Poonch, were involved in the search operation.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, initially claimed responsibility for the attack, but retracted its statement later.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the injured in Jammu and Reasi hospitals and chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation.
The Lt Governor announced financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the victims of the Reasi terror attack. Those injured in the incident would be given Rs 50,000.