Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and has returned to New Delhi in the wake of the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. The Prime Minister has also called for an urgent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Earlier, PM Modi strongly condemned the terror attack, vowing that those responsible for the “heinous act” will be brought to justice. “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,” PM Modi said in a statement.
At least 26 people were killed and several others grievously injured, including tourists and locals, in a terror attack in Pahalgam hill station in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. According to reports, a realtor named Manjunath from Karnataka’s Shivamogga district is among those killed. Two other persons from Karnataka and one from Tamil Nadu sustained injuries, according to reports.
Media reports said unknown persons wearing army fatigues came and fired at horse-riding tourists in the Baisran area around 2.30 pm. Baisran is a small meadow 3 to 4 km from the Pahalgam market. Tourists take horses to reach the place as there is no motorable road.
The PM also said in his statement, “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 only grow stronger.”
Shortly after the incident, PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, directing him to ensure all necessary measures are taken. Following this, Shah announced he would travel to Srinagar to personally assess the situation and chair a high-level security review meeting.
“Anguished by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” the Home Minister has said.