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Pahalgam death toll could be 'over 20', official says; Amit Shah leaves for J-K

A businessman from Shivamogga district in Karnataka was confirmed to have been shot dead in the attack, his family said

A tourist injured in the attack in Pahalgam (photo: PTI)
A tourist injured in the attack in Pahalgam (photo: PTI) -

Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday left for Srinagar to take stock of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of a terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam, official sources said.

Shah headed for Jammu and Kashmir soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him from Saudi Arabia and asked him to visit the Union Territory, they said.

The home minister in a post on X said he has briefed the prime minister about the incident and held a meeting with the officials concerned via video conferencing. In Srinagar, Shah will hold an urgent security review meeting with all relevant agencies.

Multiple tourists were feared killed and at least 20 injured when terrorists opened fire in a picturesque meadow near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town, breaking the calm of a regular Tuesday afternoon with scores of people enjoying their day out. The death toll could be more than 20, estimated a high-ranking official without going into details, according to PTI.

A businessman from Shivamogga district in Karnataka was confirmed to have been shot dead in the attack, his family said. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah condoled Manjunath Rao's demise and said he held a meeting with officials over the incident. A team of officials from Karnataka has left for Kashmir, an official statement said.

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The toll is still being ascertained, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said while describing the terror attack as "much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years".

The attack, which comes as US vice-president J.D. Vance is visiting India, took place at around 3.00 pm, officials said.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday termed the terror attack as shocking and painful, and said the dastardly inhuman act of targeting innocent citizens was unpardonable. She also offered heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their dear ones and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.

"The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir is shocking and painful. It is a dastardly and inhuman act which must be condemned unequivocally. "Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their dear ones and my prayers for the quick recovery of the injured," Murmu said in a post on X.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra called it a "dastardly and disturbing incident". Reacting strongly over the attack ahead of Amarnath Yatra, Karra expressed grave concern over the worsening security situation and called for more effective measures to strengthen the security network. 

He said the situation has worsened in the past couple of years and terror networks have spread in most parts of Jammu region, which was almost normal in the last two decades.

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The Central government was cautioned time and again to control the worsening situation by further strengthening the security grip and taking on board political parties and the elected government to adopt a more effective counter-terrorism strategy, Karra said. He reiterated the demand for an all-party meet to discuss the security situation.

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP also strongly condemned the terror attack on Tuesday. Calling it a "tragic and unfortunate incident", Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma said the attack was carried out at the behest of Pakistan, targeting innocent visitors who had come to the Union Territory to experience its natural beauty.

"This is heartbreaking. The tourists had visited Vaishno Devi and later decided to explore scenic destinations like Pahalgam. Such acts of violence should not happen, especially when people come here in peace," Sharma said.

"Those involved will be eliminated one by one. They will face the consequences of their actions," he said. Sharma noted that the attack comes just as the tourism season is beginning in Kashmir, when the local economy heavily depends on visitors. "This is a deliberate attempt to derail the tourism season, which is crucial for the livelihood of many in Kashmir. But such conspiracies will not succeed," he stated.

With PTI inputs

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