Four militant groups on Wednesday warned people against travelling by the April 7 inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus.

A statement faxed to newspaper offices by Al-nasreen, Al-arifeen, Farzandan-e-millat and the Save Kashmir Movement dubbed the bus a 'coffin'.

The statement said the Kashmir bus is a ploy by the Indian government to keep Kashmir with it forever.

The militant groups said the bus will be attacked on its way to Muzaffarabad. They have called for a general strike in the Valley on April 7, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] will flag the bus off.

"We humbly request the persons selected to travel on the first and second bus to Muzaffarabad not to enter the coffin...but if they do, they will find their names in the list of traitors," the statement said.

The statement carries a list of 40 persons who have booked seats on the first bus, complete with their residential addresses and application form numbers.

The statement accuses Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] of "constantly working against Islamic forces in Pakistan at the behest of his masters."

Reacting to the threats, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil [Images] on Wednesday said the government will take all steps to ensure a safe journey for passengers in the inaugural bus service between Srinagar [Images] and Muzaffarabad on April seven

He said the Centre was gathering information about threats to people travelling in the bus.

"We are in the process of gathering full information and we will take al steps necessary to ensure safety of passengers," Patil told reporters in New Delhi [Images].

"Whatever we are doing is in the interest of peace. We will have to be very vigilant and we will not let our guard down," Patil said.

With PTI inputs

Also see:
Tight security on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route