Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir | April 22, 2025
In a deeply disturbing incident, a group of tourists in Pahalgam, a renowned hill station in south Kashmir, was targeted in what authorities are describing as a religiously motivated terrorist attack. Preliminary investigations reveal that the assailants sought to confirm the victims’ religious identities before launching the assault, specifically targeting Hindu tourists.
The attack occurred late Sunday evening near the Lidder River belt, a typically peaceful stretch popular among families and pilgrims alike. Eyewitness accounts and early intelligence reports suggest that the terrorists stopped a group of tourists and allegedly asked for names, religious symbols, and identification details before singling out Hindu individuals—among them a woman wearing traditional Bengali bangles (shakha-pola), a cultural marker of married Hindu women.
Several individuals were injured in the attack. Emergency services responded swiftly, and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals in Anantnag and Srinagar for treatment. Their conditions remain stable, according to officials.
The only confirmed fatality from the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, is Shalinder Kalpiya. No other victim names have been officially confirmed in available reports. Eyewitness videos suggest a higher toll, with three to four more bodies seen, but identities and conditions remain unverified by security agencies.
Footage from the recent attack on tourists in Pahalgam has emerged. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened a high-level security meeting in New Delhi to assess the situation and review the security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir. Top officials from the Intelligence Bureau, National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Ministry of Home Affairs are participating in the review. Enhanced security measures are expected to be deployed, particularly in areas witnessing increased tourist influx ahead of the Amarnath Yatra season.
Local law enforcement, in coordination with central security agencies, has launched a search operation across Pahalgam and adjoining regions to apprehend the attackers. Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of Pakistan-backed terror outfits, and the investigation is now being escalated to national agencies.
The targeted nature of the attack has sparked strong reactions across the country, with political leaders, civil society groups, and religious organizations condemning the incident and demanding justice.
This marks a troubling reminder of the fragile peace in the Kashmir Valley and raises urgent concerns about the safety of pilgrims and tourists ahead of peak travel season.
ReporterHouse will continue to monitor this developing story and provide verified updates as the investigation unfolds.
