April 23: In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, 26 tourists were killed and several others injured after Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group in the picturesque Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam on Tuesday. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the brazen daylight attack.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the assailants, disguised in military fatigues, stormed the area shortly after noon and began shooting indiscriminately at tourists, many of whom were women and elderly. Horrific scenes unfolded in the popular meadow as bodies lay motionless and families desperately searched for loved ones amidst chaos and bloodshed.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi, cutting short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. He immediately held an emergency meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
On Wednesday, PM Modi chaired a crucial session of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is tasked with decision-making on matters of national security, defence policy, and strategic responses. The CCS includes the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, and External Affairs Minister.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site of the carnage in Baisaran Valley. Arriving by chopper, Shah took stock of the situation, paid his respects to the victims, and met with the grieving families.
Security forces were immediately deployed to the region, launching a large-scale anti-terror operation to track down the attackers. Intelligence sources indicate the terrorists selectively targeted individuals based on their religion before opening fire.
The government has released the names of the victims, which include both Indian nationals and foreign tourists. Among the deceased are Manish Ranjan, an Excise Inspector, and Tagehalying, an Air Force employee.
International condemnation poured in swiftly. US President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Russian President Vladimir Putin extended their condolences and expressed solidarity with India.
As the nation mourns, heightened security alerts have been issued across the Valley, with the Centre reiterating its commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
