More than 25 tourists have been killed after gunmen opened fire in a popular resort town in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police say. Police have described the incident as a “terror attack”, with militants fighting against Indian rule blamed for the massacre.
The attack occured at Baisaran meadow, which is located around 5km from Pahalgam, a busy tourist destination in the disputed region. At least 26 people were killed in the gun attack with 17 wounded, Indian police told AP.
In the aftermeath, at least 24 bodies were collected, and two people died while being taken for medical treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a state visit to Saudi Arabia to return to India for security meetings.
He condemned the shooting as a “heinous act”, vowing that the gunmen would be brought to justice.
Amit Shah, India’s home minister, came to Indian-controlled Kashmir’s main city Srinagar and held a meeting with top security officials.
In a post on social media, he vowed: “We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences.” It’s not yet clear who was responsible. A manhunt has been launched for the gunmen.
Two senior police officers told the AP that dozens of tourists were shot at from close range by a least four shooters.
Most of the tourists killed were Indian, the officers said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with departmental policy.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.
Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989.
New Delhi insists Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir, which Pakistan strongly denies, with many Kashmiris considering it a legitimate freedom struggle.
Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and Government forces have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
