Srinagar, India, Apr 23 (EFE).- Grief and fear hung heavy over parts of Indian-istered Kashmir on Wednesday, a day after gunmen stormed a remote alpine meadow and opened fire on Indian tourists, killing nearly 30 people in the deadliest civilian attack in the region in years.
The assault took place on Tuesday in Baisaran, a popular meadow accessible only by foot or horseback, near the southern resort town of Pahalgam, nicknamed “Little Switzerland,” some 100 km (62 miles) south of Srinagar.
Authorities have blamed Pakistan-backed militants and launched a massive manhunt with security forces sweeping dense pine forests in Pahalgam, literally “the valley of shepherds,” aided by military helicopters.
Local police and federal security agencies classified the attack as an “act of terror.”
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), India’s top anti-terror body, has taken over the probe, though no arrests have been made so far.
Shops and businesses in parts of the Kashmir Valley shut down in protest after religious, political, and trade groups called for mourning.
Militants claim responsibility
A previously unknown militant group, the Resistance Front, banned by New Delhi and believed to be a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Indian media citing government sources.
Formed after India revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in 2019 to curb militancy, the group has accused the government of settling over 85,000 non-locals in the Muslim-majority region.
While the group’s claim could not be independently verified, earlier this month the regional government informed the legislature that nearly 84,000 Indians from outside Kashmir had been granted domicile rights in the past two years.
Eyewitnesses Recall Horror
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror as gunfire shattered the serenity of the lush green meadow that remained dotted by human blood and bodies for hours.
“I, along with my colleagues, heard gunshots and saw tourists screaming and running in all directions,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a local tourist service provider, speaking to EFE.
Survivors recounted that the attackers emerged from the forest and began firing at close range, reportedly targeting men who appeared to be non-Muslims.
“We immediately understood what was happening and dropped to the ground to save ourselves. Crawling to a safer spot, we kept shouting at others to lie down, which we believe saved many lives,” Ahmad added.
Firdous, who offers horseback rides, told EFE he had taken visitors to Baisaran that morning. “After the firing, I ran for my life,” he said.
Tourism Boom Halted, ‘Normalcy’ Narrative Shattered
The idyllic Kashmir Valley, nestled in the Himalayas, has witnessed a tourism boom in recent years.
The attack has dealt a severe blow to the federal government’s narrative of normalcy in Kashmir, a region often described as one of the world’s most heavily militarized zones.
In 2024, the valley had witnessed a tourism boom with 3.5 million visitors—a record high. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had framed tourism as a symbol of development and peace since revoking the region’s special status.
But the carnage has shattered that narrative.
“The attack, irrespective of who carried it out, undermines the government’s claims of peace and normalcy following the revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and its conversion into two federally governed territories,” Hussain, a political analyst who asked to withhold his full name, told EFE.
He added that the Modi government had been handling the long-standing Kashmir dispute with a heavy-handed approach.
“Targeting tourists was only a matter of time,” he said. “Because using tourism numbers as a marker of normalcy was always a provocation.”
Mass Exodus of Tourists
Following the attack, which sparked anger across India, tourists began fleeing the valley in panic, triggering widespread cancellations and a sudden exodus.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, but at the same time, we totally understand why people would want to leave,” tweeted Omar Abdullah, the regional head of the elected government.
He said the istration had arranged extra flights and managed highway traffic to ensure safe departures.
Airlines also began operating evacuation flights to help tourists leave the grief-stricken picturesque valley, known for its snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes, and crystalline streams, with many staying in ornately decorated houseboats on the waters that now stand eerily quiet.
Government Vows Retaliation Federal
Interior Minister Amit Shah visited Srinagar to attend a solemn tribute ceremony for the victims and meet grieving families.
“We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” he vowed.
Later, Shah traveled to Baisaran under heavy security. Troops have since cordoned off the area and intensified the search for the attackers.
Dozens of ambulances were seen transporting bodies to Srinagar’s airport for their final journey home, a police officer at the airport told EFE, requesting anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media. EFE
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