Photo source: @MrSinha_|X
New Delhi/Srinagar: A deadly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which occurred around 3 PM today in Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist spot 6 km from Pahalgam in Anantnag district, targeted a group of trekkers, marking it the deadliest civilian attack in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the assault as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” noting that the death toll was still being ascertained. Sources report that at least 20 to 26 tourists were killed, with 10 to 20 others injured, though exact figures remain unconfirmed. Abdullah, returning to Srinagar from Ramban to manage the crisis, ensured hospital arrangements for the injured and expressed shock at the attack’s scale.
The attack, linked to the Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, shattered the calm of Pahalgam, a prime tourist destination, at a time when the region was seeing a surge in visitors. Among the victims were a 47-year-old man from Shivamogga, Karnataka, and tourists from Karnataka and Odisha, prompting Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to dispatch officials to coordinate response efforts. Security forces intensified operations, with para commandos rushed to the site, and a high alert was declared across J&K.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the terror attack on tourists, pledging that those responsible for the “heinous act” will face justice. In a post on X at 6:51 PM, Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, and assured all possible assistance to those affected. “They will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” he stated, emphasising India’s firm stance against terrorism.
Modi, currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, held a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, instructing him to visit the site and take all necessary measures to ensure civilian safety. The government reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace in the valley, with leaders across the political spectrum, including the Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Mehbooba Mufti, condemning the attack and calling for united action against terrorism.
Shah, who departed for Srinagar to hold an urgent security review meeting, condemned the attack as a “dastardly act of terror” and vowed “the harshest consequences” for the perpetrators. Shah briefed Modi on the incident via video conference with top officials, including the Home Secretary and Intelligence Bureau chief, before travelling with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials. In a post on X, Shah expressed anguish and solidarity with the victims’ families, stating he had convened a high-level meeting to assess the national security scenario, with a focus on J&K.
The incident has heightened security concerns in the region. V.K. Birdi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, was reported assessing the ground situation, with army and police teams launching anti-terror operations to neutralise the attackers. No direct statement from Birdi was provided in the sources, but Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who accompanied Shah, spoke with the Director General of Police and security officials, condemning the “cowardly” attack and assuring that the perpetrators would face severe consequences. Sinha directed the district administration and health officials to provide immediate medical attention to the injured.
– global bihari bureau
