Pahalgam attack

 

​On April 22, 2025, a tragic terrorist attack occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 28 civilians and injuries to at least 20 others. The attack was carried out by seven militants affiliated with The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. 

Couple of month before too there were attacks, but it was not of this kind in number and the way of brutality. ​

Casualties

Among the 28 deceased were 24 Indian tourists from various states, two local residents from Jammu and Kashmir, and two foreign nationals from Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. The victims included individuals from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. Notably, a 26-year-old Indian Navy officer and an Intelligence Bureau official were among those killed. ​

Wikipedia

Identified Deceased

Here are some of the identified victims:

• Sushil Nathyal – Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Syed Adil Hussain Shah – Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (local resident)
• Hemant Suhas Joshi – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Vinay Narwal – Karnal, Haryana
• Atul Shrikant Moni – Dombivli, Maharashtra
• Neeraj Udhawani – Uttarakhand
• Bitan Adhikari – Kolkata, West Bengal
• Sudeep Neupane – Batwali Ropandi, Nepal
• Shubham Dwivedi – Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
• Prashant Kumar Satpathi – Odisha
• Manish Ranjan – Bihar (Excise Inspector)
• N. Ramachandra – Kochi, Kerala
• Sanjay Lakshman – Thane, Maharashtra
• Dinesh Agarwal – Chandigarh
• Sameer Guhar – Kolkata, West Bengal
• Dileep Dasali – Panvel, Maharashtra
• J. Sachandra Moli – Bangalore, Karnataka
• Madhusudan Somisetty – Karnataka
• Santosh Jaghda – Pune, Maharashtra
• Manju Nath Rao – Karnataka
• Kastuba Ganvotav – Pune, Maharashtra
• Bharat Bhushan – Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Sumit Parmar – Bhavnagar, Gujarat
• Yatesh Parmar – Bhavnagar, Gujarat
• Tagahelingy – Zero, Arunachal Pradesh (Indian Air Force employee)
• Shaileshbhai H. Himatbhai Kalathia – Surat, Gujarat​

There is hurt, pain and anger amongst every Indian. Many young lives, some newly weds, some on family vacation, all unarmed, were killed by armed and evil militants. Those killed include:

1. Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, just 26, A Newlywed Naval Officer on his honeymoon.

2. Shubham Dwivedi, a businessman from Kanpur, married for just over two months and on a honeymoon trip with his wife.

3. Bharat Bhushan, a resident of Bengaluru, was on vacation with his wife, Sujata, and their 3-year-old son.

4. Manjunath Rao, a realtor from Karnataka's Shivamogga district, was enjoying a family vacation in Kashmir with his wife and son.

5. Manish Ranjan, an intelligence bureau officer, Serving the Nation, was killed.

6. Corporal Tage Hailyang of the Indian Air Force, hailing from Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, was among the victims.

But it is business usual for BCCI. We are back to IPL. The flags are back. Cricket is back. ‘The show must go on’ is nothing but an excuse to continue the business. Shah Rukh khan and Ajay Devgan are back to encouraging you to have Vimal. The Betting apps led by Dream11 are back.

I can still understand individuals making a living. But BCCI is different. It represents India. It works for India. Couldn’t it have taken a step back? Just for a day? Show some heart? Some conviction?

We are a sick nation. Our patriotism stops where business starts. Our humanity ends when money talks. From buying Chinese goods to enjoying IPL.

Attack Details

The militants, dressed in camouflage uniforms and armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, attacked tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. Survivors reported that the assailants demanded victims recite Islamic verses and targeted those who could not comply. The attackers used body cameras to record the assault, a tactic associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba propaganda. Following the attack, Indian security forces launched a joint operation to apprehend the perpetrators. ​

This incident has been condemned internationally, with leaders from various countries expressing solidarity with India. The Indian government has taken several measures in response, including closing a key land border with Pakistan and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. ​

It's a day of mourning for India. Everyone is shocked beyond belief. The news from Pahalgam yesterday was devastating. 

The disputed region of Jammu & Kashmir has seen something that's horrific. What began as an ordinary afternoon of leisure was shattered by the sudden crackle of automatic gunfire. People were asked to recite an Islamic verse and those who couldn't do that came under the lens of being shot. There were newly married young couples, families and others who were killed shot dead. 

How do we know?

It happened in Baisaran which is colloquially known as 'Mini Switzerland' due to its scenic landscape and panoramic vistas.  It is located approximately six kilometres uphill from Pahalgam. The affected area is also enroute to the pilgrimage route of Amarnath Yatra. 

This incident is the most horrific one in the recent years. The last few years have seen many tourists and that has been a huge step towards rebuilding economic growth in the State. 

Many countries are standing tall in this hour of grief with India. Does humanity exist in such people? 

How do you think security measures can be strengthened to prevent such incidents in the future?