26 Tourists Killed in Pahalgam Terror Attack

26 Tourists Killed in Pahalgam Terror Attack

Why in the News ?

A brutal terror attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, left 26 dead, including two foreign tourists. Militants opened fire on a group of tourists. The Resistance Front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Details of the Attack:

• Militants opened fire on 40 tourists visiting Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam.
• At least 26 were killed, including two foreigners; 16 died on the spot.
• The injured included elderly tourists from Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
• Attackers used automatic rifles and small arms, reportedly checking identities before shooting.
• Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and tourists pleading for help.
• The non-motorable terrain delayed official response.

Claim and Political Reactions

• The Resistance Front (a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot) claimed responsibility.
• The group alleged non-local domicile certificates were causing demographic change.
• PM Narendra Modi condemned the attack, promising strict action.
• Home Minister Amit Shah left Delhi for Srinagar to manage the situation.
• Leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge called it a blot on humanity.
• J&K CM Omar Abdullah called the act shocking and inhuman.

Security and Aftermath

• Pahalgam, a high-security zone due to the Amarnath shrine, was targeted.
• Injured tourists were airlifted to hospitals in Srinagar.
• Army and J&K police launched joint operations.
• The attack coincided with US Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to India.
• PM Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia trip after the incident.