- One of the most lethal attacks in years, according to the Chief Minister of IIOJK.
- Police report the shooting took place in a secluded meadow.
- India revoked IIOJK’s special status in 2019.
SRINAGAR: At least 20 individuals are believed to have lost their lives when gunmen opened fire on tourists in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Tuesday, marking one of the most severe assaults on civilians in the region in recent memory, according to three security sources.
The incident unfolded in Pahalgam, a well-known tourist spot in this picturesque mountainous area.
One security official estimated that 20 people died, while another suggested the figure could be as high as 24 or even 26. All three sources requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to disclose information to the press.
“The gunfire erupted right in front of us,” a witness recounted to India Today, choosing to remain anonymous. “At first, we thought it was just firecrackers, but when we heard screams, we immediately fled to save our lives.”
“We ran for about four kilometers without looking back… I’m still shaking,” another witness shared with India Today.
The shooting took place in a remote meadow, and reports indicate that two or three gunmen were involved, as noted by an anonymous senior police officer in a report by Indian Express.
“We are still confirming the exact number of casualties, so I won’t go into details,” stated IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on X. “However, it’s clear that this attack is far more serious than anything we’ve witnessed against civilians in recent years.”
The nationalities of the victims have not been disclosed yet.
Earlier this month, the local government in IIOJK reported to its legislature that nearly 84,000 non-residents from across India had been granted domicile status in the area over the past two years.
Since the revocation of IIOJK’s special status in 2019, which bifurcated the state into two federally governed territories, local authorities are now able to offer domicile rights to outsiders, allowing them to secure jobs and purchase land.
Incidents targeting tourists in IIOJK have become rare; the last deadly event occurred in June 2024 when nine people were killed and 33 were injured after an assault caused a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to plunge into a gorge.
This latest attack took place just one day after U.S. Vice President JD Vance began a four-day personal trip to India.
