History Today: How terrorists attacked Amarnath Yatra bus and killed 8 pilgrims in J&K

On July 10, 2017, eight people taking part in the Amarnath Yatra were killed when terrorists attacked a bus in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

This was the second time since 1990 that Amarnath pilgrims had been targeted in Kashmir. The attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, led by a Pakistani national named Abu Ismail.

Also on this day in 1985, French intelligence agents used explosives to sink the Greenpeace protest ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, New Zealand.

As part of Firstpost Explainers’ History Today series, here’s a look at what happened on July 10:

2017 Amarnath Yatra terror attack

The Amarnath Yatra attack in 2017 took place in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims was targeted by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

Eight pilgrims died and 18 others were injured after the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle.

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Before attacking the bus, the terrorists fired at an armoured police vehicle and a security checkpoint. They then surrounded the bus from three sides and began shooting.

As per security rules, the bus should not have been on the highway after 5 pm. However, it was delayed by over two hours, reportedly due to a flat tyre.

The bus driver, Sheikh Saleem Gafur, was praised for his courage. Even as bullets rained down, he drove the bus for nearly a kilometre, helping to save many lives.

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The main accused was identified as Abu Ismail, a Pakistani national.

He was killed in September that year during a short encounter with security forces in Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out the operation together.

Abu Ismail had also taken part in other attacks in south Kashmir, which led to the deaths of 14 security personnel. Police said he was named in 15 criminal cases in the valley, including murder and robbery.

When Greenpeace’s flagship vessel sank

On this day in 1985, Greenpeace’s ship Rainbow Warrior sank in Auckland harbour, New Zealand, after French agents planted two bombs on its hull.

Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira was killed in the blast.

Notably, the vessel was Greenpeace’s flagship and had been preparing for a protest at a French nuclear test site in the South Pacific.

Two days later, France denied any involvement, even as New Zealand police arrested two French secret service agents in Auckland.

Under pressure, France launched an internal inquiry, which initially claimed the agents were only spying on Greenpeace.

Later that year, a British newspaper revealed that the bombing had been authorised by French President Francois Mitterrand.

This led to top-level resignations in the French government and an admission from Prime Minister Laurent Fabius that the agents had acted on orders.

In Auckland, both agents pleaded guilty to manslaughter and wilful damage. They were sentenced to 10 years in prison but were released after a year, following a deal with the French government.

In 1992, President Mitterrand stopped nuclear testing. But it resumed in 1995, which led Greenpeace to send Rainbow Warrior II to French Polynesia in protest.

This Day, That Year

1553: Lady Jane Grey became Queen of England. Her reign lasted only nine days, the shortest of any British monarch.

1940: The Battle of Britain began as German forces launched air attacks over southern England during World War II.

1929: The United States introduced smaller-sized paper currency, reducing note dimensions by about 25 per cent.

1962: Nasa launched Telstar 1, the first active communications satellite.

1991: Boris Yeltsin was sworn in as the first elected president of the Russian Republic.