Jammu , Sept 27: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday launched searches at several locations in Rajouri and Reasi districts as part of its probe into the deadly terror attack in June on a bus carrying pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori shrine. The NIA is conducting searches at seven locations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Nine people, including seven pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir, were killed and 41 injured when terrorists opened fire on the bus on June 9. The bus, which was travelling from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, veered off the road and fell into a deep ditch after coming under a hail of gunfire near Teryath village in the Pouni area of Reasi and claimed the lives of 14-year-old boys from Uttar Pradesh. On June 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the terror attack case to the NIA. A Rajouri man, Hakam Khan, has been arrested in the case who allegedly provided food, shelter and logistics to the militants and helped them in reconnaissance of the area before the attack. Officials said several NIA teams have been conducting searches in Rajouri and Reasi districts since this morning in connection with the Shiv Khori terror attack. They said the searches are ongoing and detailed information is awaited. The NIA had also conducted searches at five locations linked to hybrid terrorists and their overground workers in Rajouri on June 30.

