Kashmir shuts to protest attack on tourists

Srinagar, April 23: A complete shutdown is being observed across Kashmir on Wednesday in protest against the deadliest terror attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.

The attack, which took place at a meadow near the famed tourist destination of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, claimed the lives of 26 tourists.

The shutdown was called by Hurriyat leader and head of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in protest against the gruesome killings. The strike call was also given by prominent trade bodies, transport associations, and civil society groups. Mainstream political parties, including the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), extended their support to the bandh.

Officials said that all shops, schools, and business establishments remained closed in Srinagar, while public transport was largely off the roads. Major towns across the Valley also reported a near-total shutdown. A heavy deployment of security forces was seen in sensitive areas of the capital city to maintain law and order.

Despite the widespread shutdown, officials said that no incident of violence was reported from any part of the Valley.

This is the first such complete shutdown witnessed in Kashmir since in past several years. Prior to the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 shutdowns were a common occurrence, often called by separatist groups.

A pall of gloom has descended in Kashmir after the killing of the tourists.

Meanwhile, a massive combing operation is underway in the dense forested stretches of the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, where the attack took place. Joint teams of the Army, police, CRPF, and elite Para commandos are searching the area in search of the terrorists involved.

Police sources said initial investigation into the deadly attack revealed that at least four terrorists, dressed in camouflage uniforms, entered the Baisaran and appeared to have also asked the targets about their religious identity before shooting them.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday evening, paid tributes on Wednesday to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. He is also expected to visit the Baisaran.