Massive Terror Attack on Tourists
Twenty –six tourists were killed and several others were injured in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
Military choppers have been pressed into service for the evacuation of those injured in the attack.
In a telephonic conversation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Union Minister Amit Shah to visit the attack site and take all suitable measures.
Background of the Attack
- Location: Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir.
- Time: Around 2:30 PM IST, on April 22, 2025.
- Event: A group of heavily armed terrorists disguised in security uniforms ambushed tourists while they were trekking or riding ponies in the scenic Baisaran area, which is reachable only by foot or pony from the main Pahalgam town.
- Type of Attack: Targeted gunfire on unarmed civilians, primarily tourists from other parts of India.
Casualties and Victims
- Death Toll: At least 26 civilians confirmed dead, most of them tourists. This makes it one of the worst civilian terror attacks in Kashmir in the last decade.
- Injured: Reports suggest 20+ people injured, some critically. Many were airlifted to Srinagar for emergency treatment.
Victim Profile:
- Tourists from Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, and a few from Tamil Nadu.
- Among the deceased: a 47-year-old businessman from Karnataka and a family of four from West Bengal.
Modus Operandi
- Disguise: Attackers wore Indian Army and J&K Police uniforms, misleading local guides and tourists.
- Weapons Used: Likely AK-47 rifles, grenades, and handguns traces of IED materials were found near the ambush zone.
Tactical Execution:
- Attackers took positions in pine forests around the meadow.
- Launched a coordinated ambush and escaped into the dense terrain.
- No militant group directly encountered security force during the escape.
Claim of Responsibility
Agroup named The Resistance Front (TRF), considered a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.
In their online post, TRF;
- Claimed the attack was a “warning to tourists and settlers”
- Alleged demographic engineering by the Indian government in Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation.
- Warned of more such “operations” if tourism and settlement policies continue.
Immediate Government Response
Central Government
- PM Narendra Modi:
- Condemned the attack.
- Tweeted: “Those behind the attack will not be spared. Their evil agenda will fail.”
- Ordered high-level review and deployment of NIA and counter-insurgency teams.
Home Minister Amit Shah:
- Rushed to Srinagar to oversee operations
- Chaired emergency meeting with J&K administration, intelligence agencies, and Army
- Ordered Zone-wise combing operations in South Kashmir.
