New Delhi: Intelligence agencies had issued warnings of a potential terror attack targeting visitors near Srinagar just days before the brutal massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, news agency PTI reported citing official sources.
Following inputs, security forces had intensified patrolling in sensitive areas such as Dachigam and Nishat, with senior police officials deployed to oversee enhanced surveillance. The alert came on the heels of the October 2024 attack in Gangangir, Sonamarg, where seven civilians were killed, heightening concerns over fresh terrorist activity.
Fortnight-long search operation
Despite a fortnight-long search operation across these flagged zones, no direct leads were uncovered, and the operation was eventually called off on the very day the Pahalgam tragedy unfolded. Authorities now believe the attackers had been planning to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to inaugurate the first train service from Katra to Srinagar. Although the Prime Minister’s visit, set for April 19, was postponed due to poor weather, security sources suggest that Pakistan-backed elements intended to overshadow the event with violence.
Initial assessments indicate that two local terrorists had mingled with tourist groups in Pahalgam. During the attack, they reportedly corralled the tourists into a food court, where two Pakistani operatives unleashed indiscriminate gunfire, resulting in the mass killing.
Evolution in the nature of terrorism
Security officials have also flagged a concerning evolution in the nature of terrorism within Jammu & Kashmir. Recoveries of sophisticated arms — including M-series assault rifles and armour-piercing rounds — suggest these may have originated from NATO stockpiles abandoned in Afghanistan, the PTI report mentioned further.
Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that popular destinations such as Baisaran remain open to tourists throughout the year, barring closures during the Amarnath Yatra and heavy snowfall. New facilities, including a zipline, have been added under a tourism contract awarded last year to boost visitor amenities.
