26 killed in Pahalgam terror attack

New Delhi: In a major terror attack at least 26 people were killed in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag districton Tuesday. The dead included two foreign tourists. Besides, a number of people were injured.

The foreigners were one each from Nepal and the UAE.
ondition.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who was in Delhi, arrived in Srinagar around 8.20 p.m. and was given a brief account of the terror incident by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the presence of the LG, the DGP and other senior officials.

The Home Minister then went to the Raj Bhavan to chair a high-level security meeting. He will also meet the injured tourists and locals at the hospital in Srinagar, where they are being treated, and will visit the terror attack site on Wednesday.

The news of the attack drew condemnation from leaders all across India, cutting beyond party lines.

Locals in Pahalgam have taken out a candlelight march against the cowardly terror attack on tourists.

Officials had earlier said one tourist was killed and at least 12 other persons, including tourists & locals, were injured in a terror attack.

As per reports, a group of 5 to 6 terrorists wearing army fatigues came and fired at tourists in the Baisaran area, only reachable by a horse ride, as there is no motorable road to it.

In a chilling account, a tourist from Karnataka who lost her husband in the terrorist attack told Kannada media that both she and her 18-year-old son confronted the terrorist and pleaded to be killed alongside Manjunath. However, the terrorist reportedly told them he wouldn’t harm them and instead instructed them to inform Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the attack.

The Prime Minister, who is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, expressed deep anguish over the incident and assured that swift and decisive action would follow.

“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” he posted on X.

In a stern warning to the perpetrators, he added, “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will only grow stronger.”

J&K LG Sinha said on X: “Anti-terror ops launched to neutralise terrorists. Entire nation is angry & blood of our forces is boiling. I want to assure the nation that perpetrators of Pahalgam attack will have to pay a very heavy price for their heinous act. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families”.

Northern Army commander, Lt Gen M.V. Suchendra Kumar, has left Delhi for Srinagar to review the situation with the field commanders.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has reached Pahalgam ahead of the Union Home Minister’s visit.

–IANS   ( With DD input)