In a heartfelt show of solidarity and condemnation, residents of Srinagar gathered on Tuesday for a candlelight march, mourning the loss of innocent lives in the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
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The protest, held at the city’s Mecca Market area, drew people from various walks of life who came together to denounce the violence and express their grief.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhatt, General Secretary of Mecca Market, voiced the collective sentiment of the gathering, stating, "We condemn this attack against humanity."
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Locals in Poonch also gathered for candle light protest against the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam. People were seen chanting slogan,
"Mazloomon ka qatl-e-aam band karo..."Meanwhile, over 20 people, primarily tourists, were killed on Tuesday in a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley area of Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police told news agency AFP.
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Gunshots were reportedly heard in the Valley — a popular tourist destination often referred to as "mini-Switzerland" — prompting the immediate deployment of security forces to the area. The site is accessible only by foot or horseback, which made rescue and response efforts more challenging.
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Officials said a helicopter was pressed into service to evacuate the injured, while some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local residents using their ponies.
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Authorities have confirmed injuries among the tourists, though the full extent is still being assessed. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital told PTI that 12 injured tourists were admitted and that all were in stable condition.
Hours after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and directed him to take all suitable measures. The Prime Minister also asked the Home Minister to visit the site.
Condemning the attack on tourists, PM Modi stated that those behind the "heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared!"
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"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! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger," PM Modi wrote on X.