Shaken by the brutality of the Pahalgam massacre, which left 26 tourists dead and 17 others wounded on Tuesday, ordinary Indians have united in grief and rage, demanding swift retaliation against the perpetrators from the government.
Echoing similar sentiments, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that the country will not bend before terror and that those responsible for the killing of tourists at Pahalgam will not be spared. Selective targeting of tourists, belonging to one faith, has not only devastated families but also shaken the public conscience.
To register their protest against the barbaric strike, people across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday observed a complete shutdown.
Across the Valley, political, religious, social and professional organisations condemned the killing of tourists at the famous Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.
Protests were held in several parts of Jammu city, with many protesters raising anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding surgical strikes to destroy terror bases in the neighbouring country.
Before the mortal remains of tourists were dispatched to their native places, the Union Home Minister attended the wreath-laying ceremony in Srinagar.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also paid their tributes to the victims.
The Home Minister later interacted with families of the slain persons and other survivors of the attack.
He assured them the security forces would leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of the deadly attack to book.
On his arrival in Srinagar late Tuesday evening, Shah was briefed about the situation by Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat.
The Home Minister separately chaired a security review meeting, which was also attended by the Lieutenant Governor and senior officers of the Indian army, police, and others.
Posting a message on X, Amit Shah said, “With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. “Bharat will not bend before terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared,” he said.
Congress MP KC Venugopal and Jammu-Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra also paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack during the ceremony.
Later, the Home Minister arrived at the Baisaran meadow, the site of the attack that claimed the lives of innocent tourists, sending shockwaves across the nation.
Despite a huge presence of security personnel on ground zero, an uneasy calm prevailed in the picturesque meadow dotted with pine trees.
The attack was one of the biggest terror attacks in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
While he took stock of the ground situation along with senior army and police officers, the combing operations continued in the region to hunt down the perpetrators behind the massacre.
Before returning to New Delhi, Amit Shah also visited a hospital in Anantnag to enquire about the condition of the persons injured in the Pahalgam terror attack.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of each of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday.
The chief minister said no amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of loved ones, but as a mark of support and solidarity, the J-K government announces an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
The chief minister also announced Rs 2 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
All arrangements have been made to transport the mortal remains of the deceased back to their homes in a dignified manner, Abdullah said.