On Tuesday, April 22, a terrorist attack targeting tourists occurred in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India, with fears of at least 20 people dead. This is the most serious attack against civilians in the Himalayan region in years, believed to be a terrorist attack.
The attack took place in Pahalgam, a picturesque mountainous area and a popular tourist destination. The nationalities of the victims are currently unknown.
Indian Prime Minister Modi condemned this “heinous act.”
“The attackers will be brought to justice… they will not be spared!” Modi said on the social media platform X, “Their evil plans will not succeed. Our determination to combat terrorism is unwavering and will only grow stronger.”
Authorities reported that a group of tourists was shot at by suspected armed militants, with the injured taken to the main hospital in the region for treatment.
According to Reuters, a security official stated that 20 people died, a second source claimed the death toll was 24, and a third source mentioned 26 fatalities.
A senior police officer told Agence France-Presse that at least 24 people died in the shooting incident. Authorities described this as the most serious attack against civilians in years.
An eyewitness told India Today broadcasting company, “The shooting happened right in front of us.”
“We initially thought it was firecrackers, but when we heard the screams of others, we quickly fled… escaping with our lives,” the witness said.
The Indian Express quoted a senior police officer as saying that the attack took place on a grassy roadside area and involved two to three armed individuals.
“The exact death toll is still being confirmed, so I don’t want to disclose those details,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on the social media platform X. “Undoubtedly, the scale of this attack is much larger than any we have seen against civilians in recent years.”
An armed group called the “Kashmir Resistance Organization” claimed responsibility for the attack on social media. The organization expressed dissatisfaction with over 85,000 “outsiders” settling in the region, leading to “demographic changes.”
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah stated that he is rushing to Kashmir to hold a security meeting.
Both India and Pakistan claim full sovereignty over the Himalayan region. The region where the shooting occurred in Jammu and Kashmir is also known as “Indian-administered Kashmir.”