Srinagar: From Tangmarg to Tangdhar, from Kupwara to Keran, from Pahalgam to Pulwama, from Srinagar to Simthantop, entire Kashmir was in tears today, mourning the brutal killing of innocent tourists in Pahalgam woods.
An overwhelming wave of sorrow and outrage swept across the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, as protests erupted in response to the horrific terror attack that claimed the lives of 27 innocent civilians in Pahalgam. What began as grief quickly transformed into a resolute public stand against terrorism, with thousands of Kashmiris pouring onto the streets in a unified call for justice and peace.
Shops, markets, and businesses across the valley remained closed as part of a spontaneous strike. Public and private transport was grounded to a halt. Major trade bodies joined hands in solidarity, observing a valley-wide shutdown to mourn the deaths and condemn the terrorist attack.
Protest demonstrations against the attack were held all over from lamenting Lidder Valey to tearful Tangmarg, the gateway of famed tourist resort, Gulmarg.
Slogans echoed all over – Tourist Hamari Jaan Hain; Tourist Hamari Shaan Hain as people, irrespective of political ideologies, from Pahalgam and Anantnag to the heart of Srinagar chanted “Down with terrorism” and “Justice for the innocent.”
In an extraordinary show of unity, mosques across the valley broadcast messages of condemnation through their loudspeakers, urging people to stand firm against the violence.
Almost all the political parties including JKNC, JKPDP, JKPC, JKAP and others took to streets to condemn the attack. It was for the first time that all political, religious, social groups had come forward to condemn a terrorist attack.
Not in my name: Kashmiris take to streets to protest Pahalgam attack
Kashmir shuts down against terror attack, first time in 35 years
‘Not in my name’ was the clear message that went out from Kashmir on Wednesday, with people pouring into the streets across towns and villages to express their anguish and condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Kashmir valley observed a shutdown against a terror attack for the first time in 35 years on Wednesday as organisations from all walks of life supported the ‘bandh’ call to protest the killings in Pahalgam tourist resort, officials said.
Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar, the officials said.
They said only shops dealing in essential commodities were open across the city.
Public transport was also sparse, but private vehicles were plying normally, they added.
Private schools were also shut across the valley, but government schools were open, the officials said.
The effect of the shutdown was also witnessed in the other district headquarters of the valley, they said.
Peaceful protests were also held at several places in the valley, with the protestors denouncing the attack. They called for stopping the killing of innocent people.
Several political parties, socio-religious organisation, trade bodies, and civil society groups called for a shutdown in Kashmir to protest against the attack in Baisaran meadows of the Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
While Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti apologised to the people of the country and said Kashmiris were ashamed of the incident during a protest march in Srinagar, the ruling National Conference too marched to the Lal Chowk city centre to protest against the attack.
Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) — an amalgam of several religious bodies — which is headed by Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — appealed to the people of J&K to protest the heinous crime by marking a shutdown on Wednesday.
“The Islamic fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir through Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) in support and solidarity with the bereaved families of those killed appeal to people of Jammu Kashmir to peacefully protest this heinous crime tomorrow by a shutdown,” Mirwaiz said.
Kashmir’s trade and tourism bodies, including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, had also called for a shutdown.
As a mark of respect and solidarity with the victims and their families, the Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) announced the closure of all private schools across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
The Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled on Wednesday.
People from all walks of life denounced the attack on the tourists, saying the perpetrators were hitting at the foundation of the valley’s economy.
“This should not happen — not in the name of Kashmir and not in the name of Islam. Islamic teachings value human life to the point that taking an innocent life is akin to killing entire humanity,” Haji Bashir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Srinagar city, told PTI.
Protests were also held in south Kashmir districts, where locals had swarmed the streets in 2016 following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.
At a protest in Kulgam, G M Banday, a fruit grower, said the government should take steps to eradicate the menace of terrorism so that incidents like the Baisaran attack in Pahalgam do not recur.
“Steps should be taken to uproot terrorism at the earliest so that such incidents do not happen again… people of Kashmir have always been against terrorism. However, conspiracies are being hatched to malign the Kashmiri community and hit the local economy. Such acts affect the livelihood of the local youth,” Banday said.
“We are with the government in whatever steps they take to eradicate terror,” he added.
Mohammad Iqbal, a trader from Kulgam, said the attack was aimed at crippling the economy of Kashmir.
“Our innocent brothers and sisters who had come to visit Kashmir were targeted. Every Kashmiri is sad over the killings, which should not have taken place. Our trade is linked to tourism, and if tourist arrivals drop, it will hit the local economy. The local trade has been in doldrums for the past few years,” he said.
Tauseef Ahmad War, a social activist, was among the protesters in Handwara town of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
“We are protesting here to send a message to the world that Kashmiris are not with terrorism, we condemn the attack on tourists in Pahalgam,” he said.
Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said the perpetrators of the attack were neither the adherents of Islam nor the well-wishers of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Whoever did this, they neither belong to our religion nor to the people of J&K. The people of J&K are saying that such acts of terror should not be done in our name or in the name of our religion. We hope that the perpetrators are brought to justice soon,” the National Conference leader said. (With inputs from PTI)
J&K govt employees observe 2-minute silence for terror attack victims
Government employees in Jammu and Kashmir observed a two-minute silence on Wednesday as a mark of respect for the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Government employees across Jammu and Kashmir observed two minutes of silence at 3.30 pm today, paying tribute to the innocent civilians martyred in the Pahalgam terror attack. A solemn moment of collective mourning and solidarity,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on his official X account.
Abdullah had earlier asked the employees to pay tribute to the slain tourists.
“In light of the tragic killing of innocent civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam, all government office employees across Jammu and Kashmir are requested to observe a two-minute silence at 3.30 pm today as a mark of respect and solidarity,” Abdullah said in an earlier post.
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh also paid tribute to the Pahalgam terror attack victims and strongly condemned the heinous act.
“A condolence meeting was held in the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Srinagar to pay tribute to those who lost lives in the tragic incident at Pahalgam here on Tuesday,” an official spokesman said.
He said the legal fraternity shows unwavering solidarity with the victims and their families in this hour of grief.
The condolence meeting was attended by Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Rahul Bharti, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, Justice Rajesh Sekhri and Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani.
Besides, deputy solicitor general of India, senior additional advocate generals, senior designated advocates, president of J&K High Court Bar Association in Srinagar, members of the Bar, officers and officials of the Registry and court staff attended the condolence meet.
The gathering observed two minutes of silence to pay heartfelt tribute to those who lost their precious lives in the act of terrorism, the spokesman said.
At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists on Tuesday at the Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam in one of the worst terror attacks on civilians in Kashmir in the last several years.
