Tourists at Pahalgam’s Baisaran Meadow were shot at by the assailants, who were thought to be members of The Resistance Front (TRF), a branch of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
One of the bloodiest acts of terrorism in recent memory is this one.
Two operatives, attack masterminds identified as the top LeT commander India
Today reported that senior LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri alias Khalid and two PoK operatives have been identified as the attack’s masterminds by intelligence agencies. The incident caused widespread outrage and caused Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone his diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia. He went back to Delhi early on Wednesday for an urgent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Horror movie set Chaos and panic are described by eyewitness accounts.
Around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the attack occurred at Baisaran meadow, a picturesque tourist destination known as a “mini Switzerland.” Witnesses described scenes of chaos as tourists fled across the open land looking for shelter in every direction. Women could be heard wailing in pain as locals rushed to assist the survivors after the gunfire had ended. The bodies were dispersed on the ground.
Response by the government Shah and Modi promise retribution.
The “heinous” attack was condemned by PM Modi, who promised retribution. He stated, “Those who are responsible for this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared.” PM Modi has given Home Minister Amit Shah the task of keeping an eye on things. Shah is currently in Srinagar to monitor developments as security forces conduct aerial surveillance and ground operations to locate the perpetrators in the midst of a massive manhunt throughout the region.
Prompt for action Leaders of the opposition call for support for the victims’ families and justice.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition, has confirmed that he discussed the attack with high-ranking officials, such as Home Minister Shah and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He demanded support for the victims’ families and justice, describing it as “horrific.” Parties in opposition have called for an immediate all-party meeting and questioned the government’s assertions that life in Kashmir is going as planned.
Aftermath
Schools are closed in mourning as Pahalgam goes into lockdown. After the attack, Pahalgam, which is usually packed with tourists, was shut down. Today, groups representing civil society and politics have called for a bandh. In remembrance of this, the Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has ordered the closure of all private schools in the area. Air India and IndiGo announced four additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai and waived cancellation and rescheduling fees to assist stranded travelers.