Srinagar, 22 April (H.S.): Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The 26 dead included two foreigners and two locals, a high-ranking official said without providing details. The toll is still being ascertained, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated while describing the terror attack as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.”
The attack, which coincides with US Vice President J D Vance’s visit to India and as the tourist and trekking season is gaining momentum, occurred around 3 pm, officials reported. Baisaran, about six kilometers from the resort town of Pahalgam, is an expansive meadow surrounded by dense pine forests and mountains, making it a favorite among visitors from across the country and the globe.
Armed terrorists entered the grassland, dubbed ‘mini Switzerland,’ and began firing at tourists milling around eateries, taking pony rides, or simply picnicking, officials and eyewitnesses recounted. At least 20 people were injured in the assault in the volatile Kashmir Valley, where tourists have mostly remained unscathed thus far.
As news of the terror attack targeting tourists in Kashmir spread, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist organization, claimed responsibility. Officials indicated it was possible the terror group could have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran via Kokernag in south Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, and departed for Srinagar shortly thereafter to hold an urgent security review meeting with all agencies. “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover swiftly. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” the Prime Minister posted on X.
“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to combat terrorism is unshakable and will become even stronger,” he added. Eyewitnesses painted a chilling picture of gunfire shattering the calm of a typical Tuesday afternoon, with scores of individuals enjoying their day out. Cries for help were heard as lifeless bodies lay motionless in pools of blood.
Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
