Pahalgam terror attack: One of attackers captured on camera wielding AK-47 rifle
Pahalgam Terror Attack: One of the attackers involved in the horrific assault on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam was captured on camera wielding an AK-47 rifle, moments before or during the deadly gunfire that claimed 26 lives. The image, accessed exclusively by India Today, shows the militant dressed in a grey kurta pajama, holding the assault weapon with his back to the camera — a chilling visual now central to the ongoing investigation.
The terror attack was reported at Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist spot often dubbed ‘Mini Switzerland’, leaving the nation in shock and prompting a massive security response. In a shocking and rare act of terror targeting tourists, 26 persons lost their lives on Tuesday afternoon when armed militants opened fire at visitors in the scenic Baisaran meadow, popularly known as ‘Mini Switzerland’, near Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir.
The attack, which took place around 2.30 pm, created scenes of utter chaos as panicked tourists scrambled for cover across the open grassland. Eyewitnesses recalled the sheer horror as gunfire erupted without warning. “There was no shelter, people just ran in every direction,” said one local guide who helped evacuate injured visitors.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for this heinous assault. This marks one of the rare instances in recent years where tourists have been directly targeted in Jammu and Kashmir, raising alarm among both locals and national security agencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack, immediately cut short his trip and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday morning. Strongly condemning the massacre, the PM assured the nation that the perpetrators would face the full force of justice.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level emergency security meeting soon after the incident.
Political leaders across the spectrum have united in mourning. Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the attack “an abomination,” while former CM Mehbooba Mufti urged all sections of society to stand against such barbarism.
Security forces have since ramped up their presence in the area and launched intensive search operations in and around the Pahalgam region to hunt down the attackers. Drones, sniffer dogs, and elite units have been deployed to comb the dense forests and surrounding hills.
Authorities are also working to ensure the safety of remaining tourists and local residents, with enhanced patrolling and security checkpoints across sensitive zones.
- With inputs from agencies
