New Delhi, April 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday following the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister directed Shah to take all necessary measures in response to the incident and to ensure the safety and security of the people in the region.
PM Modi also instructed the Home Minister to visit the site of the attack in Anantnag district, located in South Kashmir, to personally assess the situation. Earlier in the day, reports emerged that terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam, injuring several civilians, though the state government has yet to provide an official statement on the number of casualties or injuries. The tourists who were injured in the attack were immediately moved to the local hospital in Pahalgam for treatment.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the attack, vowing that those responsible would face the strictest consequences.
Shah expressed his deep anguish over the terror strike and said, "My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences."
Shah updated PM Modi on the incident and held a video conference with relevant officials to discuss the ongoing situation. "I will shortly leave for Srinagar to hold an urgent security review meeting with all the agencies," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, expressed his deep shock and sorrow over the incident. In a statement, he acknowledged that the death toll was still being verified and refrained from discussing further details until official information was available. "This attack is much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years," Abdullah said. He condemned the attack in the strongest terms, calling the perpetrators "animals" and "inhuman."
Abdullah further stated that arrangements were being made at the hospital for the injured. "I've spoken to my colleague, Sakina Itoo, who has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured. I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately," he added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his dismay over the attack, calling it a "dastardly act of cowardice." He stated, "Deeply anguished by the news of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This attack on innocent civilians is highly reprehensible. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families."
The terrorist attack occurred earlier on Tuesday in the popular tourist area of Pahalgam, situated in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir. Tourists, who were enjoying the scenic beauty of the region, became targets of the gunmen. Security forces immediately began operations to track down those responsible for the attack, but details regarding the identity of the attackers or any arrests have not been released at this time.
