Modi holds high-level meeting at airport in India over Pahalgam attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon his early return from Saudi Arabia, convened a high-level security briefing at the Palam airport, New Delhi to assess the situation following the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K's) Pahalgam.

The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the unfolding situation.

The terror attack, which took place on Tuesday in the scenic Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, left over two dozen dead, including tourists and an Intelligence officer and injured dozens more.

Eyewitnesses reported a sudden onslaught of gunfire as terrorists emerged from nearby forests and opened fire on a group of civilians.

Initial reports indicate that The Resistance Front, a Pakistan-based outfit believed to be an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility.

PM Modi, who was in Jeddah for the second India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council, had to cut short his visit in light of the attack. He cancelled a scheduled state dinner and an address to the Indian community to return to New Delhi and take charge of the situation.

In response to the attack, security has been significantly heightened across sensitive areas in J&K. Barbed wire barricades have been erected, and strict vehicle checks are being carried out, particularly at Sarjeevan near Uri Nala in Baramulla.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday vowed that the perpetrators of the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam would be brought to justice and added that India will never bend to cowardly acts of terror.

Amit Shah pays last respects

Shah, who visited the survivors and families of the victims in Srinagar, expressed grief and pledged strict action against the perpetrators of the heinous massacre.

"With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared," Shah wrote in a post on X.

Rahul Gandhi offers support to kin of victims

In the aftermath of the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Pahalgam that claimed 16 lives and left scores injured, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and J&K Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Karra to discuss the situation and extended fullest support to families of victims.

Taking to social media platform X, LoP Gandhi wrote: "Spoke with HM Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, and J&K PCC President Tariq Karra about the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Received an update on the situation. The families of victims deserve justice and our fullest support."

Evacuating tourists

Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has stated steps have been taken to evacuate tourists, including people from Karnataka, from various tourist spots in Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is monitoring the situation and taking appropriate decisions.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Joshi further stated that the airlines have been instructed not to increase air ticket fares while facilitating the safe evacuation of tourists from Pahalgam in Kashmir.

Providing further details, the minister said that tourists are already being moved from tourist locations in Kashmir to safer areas. Necessary arrangements are also being made to bring back the bodies of the deceased.

Rescue operations are underway to evacuate tourists from the site of the terrorist attack and other tourist locations in Kashmir. Airlines have been directed not to impose higher ticket prices for transporting tourists to safety, he said.

"I have spoken with the Civil Aviation Minister to ensure that there is no increase in air ticket fares. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also been instructed to monitor the matter closely," Joshi added.

Karnataka victims

The state government has confirmed the death of two persons from Karnataka in the Pahalgam tourist attack. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has stated that the body of Bharat Bhushan will be brought to Bengaluru via Mumbai in the flight scheduled at 3 pm today.

The body of Manjunath Rao will be brought to Shivamogga city via New Delhi and the flight is scheduled at 6 pm.

The CMO has further stated that another victim, Madhusudhan Rao, who was residing at Ramamurthy Nagar in Bengaluru hails from Andhra Pradesh.

Minister for Labour Santosh Lad reached Pahalgam in Kashmir and was coordinating with the family members of the deceased to complete the procedures for their earliest return.

The Director from the Tourism department, Karnataka government has asked the tour operators and travel agents to provide details of all tourists who travelled to Jammu and Kashmir. He has also requested the relatives, friends and family of those, who are touring Jammu and Kashmir, to provide their details through the helplines.

Additional forces have been deployed in vulnerable zones to prevent any further incidents.

Meanwhile, in a show of collective mourning and protest, several organisations in Udhampur district have called for a complete bandh, demanding justice for the victims.

Indo-Asian News Service