25 tourists massacred in Pahalgam-OxBig News Network

In the deadliest terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike, 25 tourists, including two foreigners, and a local were killed and several injured after being fired upon by terrorists in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon. A Navy officer from Haryana, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal (26), who got married on April 16 and was on leave, was among the victims.

The attack took place at Baisaran, a famed meadow about 6 km from the resort town of Pahalgam that is accessible only by foot or ponies, said officials, calling the killings “a massacre”. Police officials said the victims were shot from close range.

The attack is said to have been masterminded by The Resistance Front, a proxy for the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba, which was also responsible for the Pulwama strike. An official said the tourists belonged to different states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP and Gujarat. He said the foreigners were from Nepal and the UAE.

Eyewitnesses said terrorists came into the grassland and started firing at tourists walking around eateries, taking pony rides or just picnicking. A person associated with the tourism industry, who reached the spot after the killings, told The Tribune over the phone that he “found bodies lying at multiple places”. “The tourists told us there were three-four terrorists,” he said. As gunshots rang out, there was panic and tourists ran for cover but there was no place to hide in the wide and open space, said a woman tourist. She said terrorists first asked the name before shooting down the victims. In one of the videos that went viral on social media, a woman could be heard wailing and pleading for help. “A man came and shot my husband on the head… Please ask for help,” she said.

CM Omar Abdullah described the attack as “much larger than anything seen directed at civilians in recent years”. Top police and civil administration officials were rushed from Srinagar to Pahalgam. A massive anti-terror operation had been launched to hunt down the attackers, said a security official. This is the first major attack on tourists in the Valley, though individual killings have been reported in the past.

The attack came days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a security review meeting in Srinagar and at a time when the UT administration is gearing up for the Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to start in July.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the “cowardly attack” and assured people “that those responsible would not go unpunished”.

“Spoke to the DGP and security officials. Army and J&K Police teams have rushed to the area and launched search operations. Directed the district administration and health officials to provide immediate care to those admitted to Pahalgam hospital,” said Sinha.

The Chief Minister said he was “shocked beyond belief”. “This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased,” he said.

In a statement, the Army said, “In a cowardly and heart-wrenching act of violence, terrorists opened fire on tourists and locals…. A joint anti-terror operation has been launched in Baisaran, Pahalgam and Anantnag.” The Army also said candle march was organised by the residents in Sopore, Ganderbal, Handwara, Bandipora and other parts of Kashmir to condemn the killings.