New Delhi: The terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, a quaint town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district with trails running northeast to Amarnath Cave Temple, has shocked and infuriated not just India but also the rest of the world. The deadly terrorist attack led to the death of 26 innocent people and it was one of the most heinous terror attacks in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility of the attack. Out of the 26 killed, 25 were tourists while one was a Kashmiri pony ride operator.
The tales of the survivors, their horrendous ordeal and accounts of how the victims were killed have sent a chill down the spine to the citizens of India and beyond. The attack, which unfolded at Baisaran meadow on Tuesday afternoon witnessed five to six terrorists firing on a crowd of unsuspecting tourists in three focus spots. The firing lasted for around 10 minutes and investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack has thrown up some chilling details.
How many terrorists were there?
According to an NDTV report, there were at least five terrorists who perpetrated the attack. They were hiding in the pine forest next to the meadow. When there were tourists in large numbers in the three spots, the terrorists emerged from the forest and headed towards the place, carrying rifles and they reportedly had bodycams to record the gruesome act.
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Around 1:50 pm, the first shot was fired, and visuals have shown that the helpless tourists were unaware of the approaching terrorists till the last moment. They were enjoying the scenic beauty of the Baisaran meadow with its pine forests and lush green fields. While the grown-ups were clicking photos and admiring nature, the children were enjoying on a trampoline. Little did they know about the terror that was going to unfold.
As per survivors’ accounts, the terrorists first opened fire on the tourists indiscriminately. Then, they asked the innocent tourists their religion, took an Islamic verse test and then fatally shot them from a close range. The terrorists then escaped towards the forest as per the NDTV report. As per reports, police was alerted at around 2.30 pm, about 30 minutes after the attack.
Notably, one cannot access the road from Pahalgam to Baisaran meadow by car. The route is located on a tricky terrain, with forests, muddy stretches and streams. One can travel on the route only by riding on a pony or by trekking, and that would take at least one hour. Hence, the people at the meadow received help after 3 pm. As per many survivors, those shot were alive for some time and quicker emergency response could have saved them.
According to the security agencies, the Pahalgam terror attack had the backing of Pakistan. The Indian government has already started to retaliate by putting the crucial Indus Water Treaty on hold, and the Integrated Check Post at Attari has been shut. Also, Pakistani nationals can no longer come to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme visas and defence advisers in the Pakistani High Commission has been declared Persona Non Grata. By May 1, the High Commissions’ overall strength will also be brought down from 55 to 30.
