Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday reached Baisaran in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the site of the horrific terror attack that claimed at least 26 lives and left 10 injured. Shah laid wreaths on the bodies of the deceased, met with survivors at the hospital, and assured families that those responsible for the bloodshed would be brought to justice. His visit marks a high-level response to what is now being described as the deadliest civilian-targeted attack in the region in recent years.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for those critically injured, and Rs 1 lakh for others wounded in the attack. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned from Saudi Arabia early Wednesday, held an urgent meeting with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He is also expected to convene the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting later in the day to chalk out India’s strategic response.
The attack occurred at Baisaran, a scenic off-road meadow in Pahalgam, where 2–3 armed militants opened fire on tourists. Among the victims was Manjunath, a tourist from Karnataka, whose wife Pallavi recounted the horror of witnessing his murder. Several of the injured remain in critical condition.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage. Jammu has been placed on high alert, and protests have erupted in Doda, Kishtwar, and Gujjar Nagar, with people across communities uniting in condemnation of the terror attack. In Kishtwar, the Sanatan Dharam Sabha called for a bandh, while residents in other towns demanded stringent action against the attackers.
This is the first terror attack on tourists in Kashmir this year. The last such incident took place in May 2024, also in Pahalgam, injuring two tourists. Wednesday’s attack is being seen as a direct attempt to destabilize peace and disrupt Kashmir’s tourism revival.
