Militants opened fire on a group of tourists in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least two dozen individuals and injuring many others, according to local media reports.
The attack took place in the Baisaran Valley, a scenic area popular with Indian travelers, and is described by local officials as the worst assault against civilians in the region in years. Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed concern over the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident, labeling it a “terror attack” and asserting that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the bodies of the injured and deceased tourists were being transported from the hills using horseback and all-terrain vehicles. One injured individual, Binu Bhai, reported sustaining bullet wounds to both arms and legs and described seeing around a dozen dead bodies as gunmen fired indiscriminately from behind bushes.
The Kashmir region, which has been divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, has experienced separatist violence for decades, resulting in thousands of fatalities. However, bloodshed has decreased in recent years following the revocation of Kashmir’s special status by the Modi government, which has since administered the region directly from New Delhi.
The Indian government has maintained strict control over Kashmir, deploying large security forces and suspending democratic processes in the area for years. Despite this, domestic tourism to Kashmir has increased as the government has actively promoted visits to the region to foster an image of stability.