In the aftermath of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has turned up the heat by questioning witnesses to reconstruct events that led up to the attack. Senior officials, such as an Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, and Superintendent of Police, are conducting the investigation in the scenic Baisaran Valley where the attack was launched.
Meanwhile, indignation had surged across the globe. Indian nationals and the Indian diaspora community in London marched outside the Pakistan High Commission, waving the Indian flag and holding placards to denounce the attack. The demonstrators, raising anti-terror slogans, held Pakistan responsible for giving shelter to terror groups and sought justice for the victims. The demonstration was peaceful but a reflection of deep indignation and solidarity.
After the attack and increasing diplomatic tensions, the Indian government on Friday instructed the cancellation of all the visas issued to Pakistani nationals, except long-term, diplomatic, and official visas. Medical visas will be functional only up to April 29, as per the announcement by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan also held a video conference with chief secretaries across India, directing them to take necessary action. The move is a significant policy shift to enhance border security and monitor Pakistani nationals in India.
National Reaction
Speaking in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was filled with deep sorrow over the Pahalgam attack, terming it as having broken each Indian heart. "Each citizen stands in solidarity with the bereaved families," PM Modi declared, his voice laden with emotion.
Independent Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal urged political parties to push the government to convene a special parliament session in May to demonstrate national unity amid this time of mourning. Earlier, he urged PM Modi to pass a resolution condemning the attack and cited the need for a united front.
Crackdown on Terrorism Intensifies
Jammu and Kashmir authorities have stepped up action against terror outfits. The house of Adnan Shafi, a terrorist linked to the Pahalgam attack, was demolished in Shopian district. Shafi was a member of a terror outfit for the last one year and was suspected of being involved in the deadly attack.
Apart from this, houses of other suspects in Bandipora, Pulwama, and Shopian districts were also torched. They were those of Zakir Ahmad Ganie and Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Jameel Ahmad Shergojri, who were involved in terrorism since 2016. Another top suspect, Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Adil Guree, had his house torched earlier, and ₹20 lakh reward was offered for information that could lead to his arrest.
The NIA officially opened the investigation into the Pahalgam attack, which is a top-priority inquiry into one of Kashmir's worst recent terror attacks.
Further Developments
In another development, a woman from Assam's Golaghat district was arrested for allegedly making anti-national comments on the Pahalgam attack. Her name is Dadhichi Dimple, alias Dimple Baruah, who was arrested by the Crime Branch in Guwahati and handed over to Golaghat police for further legal action.
Meanwhile, protests continued to erupt across India, with a notable demonstration at Mumbai’s Dadar Swami Narayan Mandir where citizens voiced their grief and anger against terrorism.