Srinagar, April 22: At least 28 people, including two foreign nationals—a tourist from Italy and another from Israel or Nepali—were killed and dozens injured after heavily armed terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on a group of tourists at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack, top intelligence sources confirmed to Kashmir Dot Com.
The brazen midday assault targeted a mixed group of tourists, including families, women, and the elderly, enjoying horseback rides and the spring scenery. Eyewitnesses told authorities that men, dressed in military fatigues, entered the area and opened fire without warning.
Among the deceased are Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and his wife Himanshi, Shalinder Kalpiya from Gujarat, and Manjunath Rao, a businessman from Karnataka’s Shivamogga district. The tourists had arrived from various Indian states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Two local civilians were also among the dead. Among the dead-one is woman and 27 are men. Sources adi that one high rank official is also believed to be killed in this attack.
A woman survivor told security personnel that the attackers asked for names before shooting, suggesting selective targeting. Videos from the site captured the chaos, with bodies lying motionless and desperate family members searching for loved ones amidst screams and gunfire.
The Resistance Front (TRF), created post-August 2019, is widely regarded by security agencies as a rebranded front of Lashkar-e-Taiba, designed to portray Kashmir militancy as an indigenous resistance movement. TRF’s messaging often uses encrypted platforms and is aimed at evading global scrutiny and FATF sanctions against Pakistan-backed terror operations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is en route to Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, where he will chair a high-level security review meeting late Tuesday evening. He is scheduled to visit Pahalgam on Wednesday to assess the situation on ground and meet the families of the victims.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the massacre, calling it an “abomination” and stating that the attack was “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.” He added that the death toll is still being ascertained.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, discussed the situation with Amit Shah over a phone call. In a statement, he said:
“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. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared.”
Initial reports suggest the attackers may have infiltrated from Kishtwar and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir. Security forces have launched a massive anti-terror operation in the region, deploying sniffer dogs, drones, and additional reinforcements.
The attack has triggered shock and condemnation across India and abroad. With the presence of foreign nationals among the casualties, diplomatic outreach and international concern over security in the Valley is expected to escalate in the coming days. (KDC)
