Pakistani freedom protesters hack Shropshire coach firm website
Passengers looking up the time of the next bus from Ludlow to Shrewsbury, or from Pontesbury to Newtown, can usually do so without taking into consideration the ongoing political turmoil in the Indian state of Kashmir.
And that remained the state of affairs until protesters from Pakistan chose to make their voice heard through the somewhat unusual forum of bus firm Minsterley Motors' website.
The protesters hacked into the south Shropshire coach firm's homepage, and instead of being greeted with pictures of the company's friendly blue and white coaches, visitors were faced with the flag of Pakistan, pictures of protesters clashing with the military - and hip hop music.
The page announced that it had been "hacked by King Sam and Virus Attacker" and "Stamped by Pak Cyber Expert" before proclaiming "Govt Of India Its Time To Tell the Truth To All Innocent Indian Peoples... They Don't The Truth Behind Your Illegal Occupation In Kashmir.. You Keep Them Blinded That Kashmir Is A Part Of Baharat But In Real Situation Is Different!!!"
John Jones, owner of Minsterley Motors said he was not aware of the hacked page, which affected the welcome page but not the rest of the website, until he was told about it by the Shropshire Star.
"I didn't even see it," he said. "I contacted our internet operator and said whatever's on there, get it off."
He said the page was removed immediately, and he was baffled as to why protesters calling for the freedom of an Indian state would target coach operators in Shropshire.
"I can't give an explanation for it," he said. "But these people who do this hacking, I think it's disgusting."
The message on the Minsterley Motors' homepage accused the Indian government of killing and imprisoning innocent Kashmiris during years of strife in the territory.
"Every Nation or group of people, even a single human has a right to live his life with freedom," it said.
"Go back to the place where you have come from ... Take your Army Back...!! Let them live with Peace."
The post is assigned to Pak Cyber Expert, Pak Cyber Attackers, Muslim Cyber Army and Cyber Rose and ends with the words "Pakistan Zindabad", and expression of Pakistani patriotism.
Jammu and Kashmir is a state of India which covers part of the Himalayan mountains, but ownership of the territory is disputed by both Pakistan and China.
Pakistan controls some regions and refers to Indian-controlled parts as "Indian-occupied Kashmir".
Under the British partitioning of India in 1947, Kashmir joined India as a quasi-independent region, but has seen decades of unrest as neighbouring countries and freedom fighters struggled with the Indian authorities for control.
Recently the state has seen the resurgence of a strong non-violent independence movement.
