24 Years of Kaluchak Massacre: Nation Remembers 31 Lives Lost in Brutal Terror Attack
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On May 14, 2002, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one of the deadliest terror attacks when three heavily armed terrorists from Pakistan carried out a brutal massacre at Kaluchak in Samba district.
According to investigations, the terrorists had infiltrated into India through the Line of Control in the Samba sector. Early in the morning, they boarded a Himachal Roadways bus travelling from Pathankot to Jammu near Vijaypur.
At around 6:15 am, the terrorists stopped the bus near Kaluchak. They first shot dead the driver and conductor and then opened indiscriminate fire on the passengers sitting inside the bus. Several people died on the spot, while many others were critically injured.
Hearing the gunfire, nearby Army personnel immediately reacted and opened fire towards the terrorists. In an attempt to escape, the terrorists moved towards the nearby Army family quarters.
The attackers, who were carrying automatic weapons and grenades, also targeted parked vehicles to cause more destruction. After entering the Army residential area, they again started firing indiscriminately on Army families, including women and children.
The Army quickly cordoned off the area and launched an operation against the terrorists. After hours of intense gunbattle, all three terrorists were killed by Army personnel later that night.
The attack claimed the lives of 31 people, including 3 Army personnel, 18 family members of Army personnel and 10 civilians. Around 47 others were injured, including soldiers, Army family members and civilians. Many of the victims were women and children between the ages of 4 and 10 years.
Investigations later confirmed that all three terrorists were Pakistani nationals. They were identified as Abu Suhail, Abu Murshed and Abu Javed, all believed to be from different areas of Pakistan.
The Kaluchak massacre remains one of the most horrific terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s history.