A luxury sleeper bus operated by Star World Ventures stopped at Divine Star Dhaba near Kurukshetra late Friday night, October 17, 2026, only to face a violent ambush. Unidentified assailants, initially engaging in verbal abuse with the driver, escalated the situation by pelting the vehicle with stones and bricks. The assault shattered windows and tail lights, leaving approximately 40 passengers—including women and children—trapped in fear as they slept.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacted swiftly, taking the matter directly to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and the state police. In a post on X, Abdullah stated, "This unfortunate incident should never have taken place. I hope the Haryana government... catch the culprits & take action to ensure these things don't happen again." The J&K government has declared it stands with the affected passengers and is monitoring the situation closely.
The bus owner alleges a premeditated motive, claiming the attackers arrived in a car, argued with the driver, and returned on motorcycles to execute the attack. Crucially, the owner reported that the assailants threatened that Kashmir-registered vehicles would no longer be allowed to operate in Haryana. While this specific claim of a regional ban remains unverified, the allegation points to a potential hate crime rather than a random act of vandalism.
Visual evidence circulating on social media shows broken glass scattered across the bus interior and an elderly Kashmiri passenger bleeding from injuries sustained during the attack. Political reactions from J&K have been sharp. National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar labeled the incident an alleged hate crime, while PDP leader Waheed Para demanded immediate arrests.
Haryana Police have yet to release an official update on arrests or the identity of the suspects. The J&K government is awaiting a formal response from Haryana authorities regarding the investigation's progress, with both state offices in direct communication to resolve the inter-state friction.