New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah reached Srinagar on Tuesday to review the security situation in the Kashmir Valley after a nearly 20 tourists were killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The home minister’s visit comes just hours after the attack on a popular tourist destination, Baisaran.
After landing at the Srinagar airport, Shah went directly to the Raj Bhavan, where he is expected to hold a high-level meeting with top security officials to assess the immediate threat posed by militants and ensure further protection of tourists and civilians. The home minister is also likely to visit the site of the attack in Pahalgam on Wednesday to gain firsthand insight into the scale of the tragedy.
Two foreign nationals among those killed
The assault occurred on Tuesday afternoon at around 2.30pm when terrorists opened fire at tourists in Baisaran, a picturesque meadow known as ‘mini Switzerland’. According to reports, two foreign nationals are among those killed in the attack. Over 20 others were injured in the attack.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack. Security agencies believe the terrorists may have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and traveled through Kokernag to reach the tourist hotspot in South Kashmir, a PTI report mentioned.
Govt sets up 24×7 emergency helpline
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government has set up a 24×7 emergency helpline to assist tourists in need of information or assistance. “A 24×7 emergency help desk has been established by Anantnag district administration for tourists requiring assistance or information. Tourists can contact 01932222337, 7780885759, 9697982527 or 6006365245 for information or assistance,” PTI quoted an official spokesperson as saying.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the violence, calling the attack “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”. The toll from the attack is still being confirmed.
