A family of five from Maharashtra’s Pune came under a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, when gunmen opened fire on tourists gathered in a valley. The attack, which took place as the family posed for photographs in traditional Kashmiri attire, has been claimed by a shadow outfit affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The targeted firing occurred in a popular tourist zone bustling with visitors, many of whom had gathered for photos in the scenic backdrop.
Speaking to India Today TV, one of the survivors — a woman from the Pune family — recounted a blow-by-blow account of what actually happened at the attack site and claimed that the terrorists singled out Hindu tourists and shot them.
“The terrorists suddenly appeared and began firing indiscriminately. While some of them opened fire, others grabbed the Hindus present and forced them to recite the Azan. Then they resumed firing and shot my father and uncle,” she said, adding that the assailants claimed their religion was “in danger” because of the Hindus.
She further compared the method of the assault to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. “The terrorists attacked only the men. It was very similar to what happened during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. They were wearing uniforms like those of local police and had printed masks that resembled what army personnel wear,” she added.
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In the deadliest assault in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama attack, terrorists sprayed bullets at a popular meadow near Pahalgam on a busy Tuesday afternoon, with at least 26 feared dead and several injured.
Just six kilometres from the tourist hub of Pahalgam, the lush meadow of Baisaran — nicknamed “mini Switzerland” for its pine-fringed slopes — turned into a site of horror. Armed terrorists stormed the grassland, opening fire on unsuspecting tourists who were picnicking, riding ponies, or gathered near food stalls, according to officials and eyewitnesses.
Meanwhile, PM Modi conveyed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the attack and vowed strict action against the terrorists involved in the heinous act. “They (terrorists) will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” the Prime Minister, who is currently in Jeddah, said in a post on X.
