CJP approached the commission under Article 338(5)(a) and (b) of the Constitution, which mandates the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the Constitution or under any other law, and to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes.

The complaint meticulously lists of 30 numerous atrocities from April to June 2025, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. These incidents range from horrific sexual assaults, including rape and gang-rape of minor Dalit girls and women, to brutal murders, physical violence, and public humiliation. Instances include a deaf and mute Dalit girl being raped in Rampur, a 10-year-old boy brutally murdered in Etah, and a Dalit groom being beaten and forced off his horse in Agra.

Beyond physical violence, the complaint highlights social discrimination, such as Dalits being denied cremation rights, barred from temple entry, and subjected to casteist slurs. These incidents reveal a deeply ingrained prejudice that continues to inflict severe trauma and deny basic human rights. CJP’s filing with the NCSC is a crucial step towards seeking accountability for perpetrators and ensuring justice and protection for the marginalised Dalit community, emphasising the urgent need for stringent action and systemic change.

Widespread crimes against SCs violating the PoA Act and Civil Rights

CJP Stated in its complaint that, these incidents directly contravene the spirit and letter of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and more critically, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST PoA Act), which specifically aims to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and to provide for special courts for the trial of such offenses and for relief and rehabilitation of the victims. The recurring nature of these incidents, especially the widespread instances of sexual violence and physical attacks, highlights a severe lapse in the implementation and enforcement of these crucial legislations.

Summary of the Incidents Reported

Targeted crimes against SCs, a pattern of abuse

Through complaint, CJP highlights that systemic, widespread incidents of caste-driven oppression that are prevalent countrywide, across states governed by different political dispensations pointing to a deep-rooted societal malaise that has not only acquired a frightening level of ‘normalised violence and oppression’ but also is ‘allowed because of structured levels of immunity’. While some measure of space and political representation has been ensured due to the affirmative action of reservations, even decades after independence, the Dalits have not achieved total emancipation. Even today, Dalits continue to be vulnerable to such attacks which are not just violent in nature but also emerge from trivial social stigma.

CJP also stated in its complaint that as per the NCRB report, there are a total of 70,818 cases of atrocities against SCs and 12,159 against STs that remained pending for investigation at the end of the year 2021. A total of 2,63,512 cases of SCs and 42,512 cases of STs were placed for trial in the courts. At the end of the year, more than 96 percent of the total cases were still pending for trial. Though the charge-sheeting percentage was more than 80%, but the conviction rate remained below 40%.

Legal issues and violations involved in anti-Dalits crimes

CJP mentioned in its complaint that the pervasive nature of these incidents highlights a profound and alarming issue: the persistent and egregious violation of the fundamental rights of Scheduled Castes. These crimes are not isolated, but rather represent a systemic failure to protect a vulnerable population, often underpinned by deeply entrenched caste-based discrimination.

Such acts directly violate various provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (PoA Act), specifically Sections 3(1) and 3(2). These sections criminalise intentional insults, intimidation with intent to humiliate, caste-name abuse in public view, and obstruction of access to common property resources or public places.

Furthermore, the willful neglect of duties by public servants, particularly police officers, is a direct violation of Section 4(1) of the PoA Act, and potentially Sections 198 and 120 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 for public servants disobeying the law or voluntarily causing hurt to extort confessions, as CJP added

Prayers of CJP for intervention

In light of these distressing facts, CJP urgently implores the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to take immediate and decisive action. The primary prayers include mandatory registration and monitoring of FIRs, directing DGPs of affected states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra) to provide exhaustive reports on incident status, ensuring proper legal sections, and immediate registration of new FIRs where needed. CJP also seeks independent, impartial, and expeditious investigations with active NCSC monitoring, calling for Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and regular progress reports.

Crucially, it requests mandatory suspension and departmental proceedings against negligent public servants under the SC/ST (PoA) Act, emphasising accountability. Furthermore, CJP prays for the immediate and comprehensive provision of compensation, protection, and rehabilitation for victims and their families, ensuring medical, psychological, and legal aid.

Finally, CJP urges the NCSC to issue special, binding guidelines and advisories for prevention, including identifying atrocity-prone areas, mandating sensitisation training for police, establishing mechanisms for action against delinquent officials, and fostering public awareness and community engagement. The NCSC’s robust intervention is paramount to secure justice and deter future atrocities.

Related

CJP files complaint with NCSC, 11 anti-Dalit incidents highlighted since July 2023

CJP informs NCSC of Bihar police beating up minor Dalit boys for celebrating Holi; seeks action

CJP moves NCSC for protection for family of Dalit boy

The post Dalit Justice Demanded: CJP exposes 30 brutal anti-Dalits atrocities, urges NCSC to confront nationwide caste violence under Article 338 appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Targeted Violence in April and May

In the months of April and May, CJP documented 180 instances of targeted violence against Indian Muslims post the Pahalgam attack. Of these, 77 took place in April, and 103 in May. These spanned from outright cases of murder (3 specific instances, 3 victims) to nearly 99 cases of hate speech (made by politicians, proponents of Hindutva and other individuals and organisations with affiliations to the Hindu-right). The attacks spiked between April 23 and 25 (10, 12 and 18 cases respectively), following a near-steady course of events right through May. The following is a visualisation of this pattern of violence across the month.

Graph representing number of incidences of communal violence in relation to time

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These attacks were spread out across India, as demonstrated by this map – although they were majorly spatially concentrated in northern and central India – with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana being the 5 worst offenders – with 29, 28, 22, 21 and 10 instances respectively.

Pie-chart representing the percentage of targeted violence per-state

Many (at least 66 out of 180 incidents had the assailants referring to the Pahalgam attack or accusing the victims of allegiance to Pakistan, thus directly relating it to the same and the state’s narrativisation of the violence – thus bringing up the percentage to 36.66%. This does not obviously include incidents which did not have the perpetrators bringing up the attack or alluding some association to it, although, in most cases one can make the assumption that the spike in attacks is related to the perception of the attack) of these incidents were direct outcomes of the Pahalgam attack, with many of the perpetrators citing it as the reason for the same.

A chilling example would be the video of a man claiming responsibility for the killing of a young Muslim man, who was shot dead near a restaurant located on Shilpgram Road in Tajganj police station area, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The man in the video identifies himself as a member of ‘Kshatriya Gauraksha Dal’. “Bharat Mata ki saugandh, 26 ka badla agar 2,600 se na liya toh mei Bharat Mata ka putr nahi, Jai shri Ram, Jai Hindu Rashtra, Bharat Mata ki Jai”, the man is heard saying. The two men have knives and a pistol tucked inside their waist. Reacting to the viral video, Agra Police said, “Regarding the viral video on social media, it is to be informed that no organization named Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal is working in Agra.”

This recent spike in attacks on India’s religious minorities must be contextualized — there is an establishment of a “new normal”. This systemic violent targeting of India’s Muslims (and Christians) can be traced back to 2014, when a new avatar of the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed control at the centre. The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism writes, “Historically, communal riots often involved groups from two religious communities clashing, with both sides inflicting and suffering losses … However, in recent years, the nature of larger riots has shifted. Instead of clashes between two communities, many significant riots now involve state actions disproportionately targeting the Muslim community. These actions include using bulldozers to demolish properties owned by Muslims, causing significant economic damage. Additionally, the state has slapped cases and implicated the members of the Muslim community, even in instances where they are victims of violence during communal riots. The disproportionate and seemingly one-sided state action has led to social discord, communal consciousness, and polarization. This atmosphere of communal tension has been steadily intensifying over recent years. For instance, the Pew Research Center, a respected research institution, categorized India in 2022 as “very high” on its Social Hostilities Index (SHI), with a score of 9.3. Social hostilities index (SHI) factors in levels of religion-related harassment, mob violence, terrorism, militant activity, and conflicts over religious conversions or the use of religious symbols and attire.” This also tracks with the India Hate Lab report, which stated that there was a 74.4% surge in hate speech in 2024, driven by the BJP, Hindutva outfits, and unchecked social media amplification.

Media, politics, and the act of communalisation

India has noticed a growing entrenchment of the systematisation of communalism and ensuing violence over the last decade. However, this is not a singular event that has stemmed from uniquely specific factors. This is a product of the country’s long history of communal tensions and Hindutva outfits’ responsibility in stoking the fires in ensuring that said tensions evolve into deeper, more dangerous rifts whose brunt is borne by the Muslim civilians in the country. Tanika Sarkar, well-known intellectual and former professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University – who has written largely on Indian politics, society and religion, told DW, a global news TV program broadcast by German public state-owned international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW). “What happens is that war does not immediately translate into violence at home but it translates into very bitter memories and histories and allegations. I don’t know how it is on the Pakistani side, I suppose very much the same thing … In the latest conflict in particular, India’s news channels did not help. Between May 8 and May 10, some of the most viewed channels reported sensational, unverified information which later turned out to be false. That, coupled with messages circulated on WhatsApp, created an environment of fear. This is a situation where you can’t believe or disbelieve anything. And in that situation if you are so minded, then you will start looking at every Muslim with suspicion … Even if these attacks aren’t the norm, they create a psyche of fear in the hearts of every Muslim who lives in India.” CJP has, in a sustained campaign, complained against such media outlets and is pursuing some of these cases with the NBDSA even now.

What Sarkar mentions needs to be highlighted, because Indian news media has attained a near vitriolic status when it comes to war-mongering and proselytizing Islamophobia. TV anchors called for “Israel-like final solutions” and repeatedly attempted to mobilize public opinion against a possible ceasefire. The attitude of the unprofessional conduct of entrenched electronic media channels was a subject matter of comment on international media. Political commentators trying to provide more nuanced takes on the situation at hand were silenced or side-lined. Nupur J. Sharma, editor of OpIndia, tweeted, ““Nobody cares. keep your candles. Keep your apples. Keep your shawls. Keep your Kashmiriyat. Stop the bloody drama,” in response to a candle march held by Kashmiris in condemnation of the attack.

Columnist and political researcher Asim Ali wrote for The Telegraph, “The function of the communally-coded messaging broadcast on news channels is not to ‘reflect’ the anger of the audience, as they claim. It is to create and sustain an angry, communal subject that identifies with the incendiary scripts and is conditioned to demand revenge on a shady ‘Muslim’ enemy as well as its political supporters. It is to reinforce the authority of the political executive even though it has failed to fulfil the substantive demands of the citizenry, now transformed into a passive Hindu audience with its exogenously- seeded communal demands.

Historical Context

Ali writes, “The foundational moment of the present regime can, arguably, be located in the 2002 Gujarat riots where this political experiment of constructing and exorcising a Muslim enemy had been carried out to fruition. That experiment culminated in the re-election of the Modi-led state government over thousands of dead bodies. We have already seen several reports of attacks on Kashmiri students by right-wing vigilantes from different states in the last few days.” Ali connecting Pahalgam to the Gujarat riots is very well-founded, because this chamber of violence is not neo-natal in its construction. It has been tried, tested and perfected over decades of institutionalizing codes of conduct of perpetuating harm towards the Islamic “other”.

To contextualize this further, one could look at the media coverage of the 2002 riots and the differences in its approach. In the Concerned Citizens Tribunal Report, Crimes Against Humanity released in November 2002, the Tribunal noted, “On February 28, the two largest circulation, multiple-edition Gujarati newspapers, Sandesh and  Gujarat Samachar, which are fairly dependent on the state government’s largesse, played up the unsubstantiated official version of there being a ‘foreign hand’ behind the Godhra tragedy. It was only 3-4 weeks later that reports rubbishing this theory began to appear in newspapers. But by that time, the damage had already been done. Sandesh and Gujarat Samachar have been playing a blatantly communal role since the BJP returned to power in Gujarat in 1998. The BJP government’s patronage of these dailies needs to be looked into carefully, so that they do not continue to act as mere government agents. In the recent carnage, too, the role of Sandesh was particularly mischievous, while some smaller circulation newspapers like Gujarat Today, Sadhbhav and Gujarat Mitra acted responsibly.”

A study done by Saifuddin Ahmed titled The Role of the Media during Communal Riots in India points out that national television media coverage of the riots had been “bold and independent” with journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt at Star News repeatedly condemning the victimisation of the Muslims in Gujarat during the riots. Print publications like The Times of India and The Indian Express carried headlines that highlighted the atrocities faced by the Muslim communities. This of course resulted in them receiving a lot of flak from the BJP administration in Gujarat and the centre. According to Ahmed, “The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, addressed the nation a day after the attacks, regretting the “disgraceful” violence. He later on added that the news media were presenting an “exaggerated” account of the situation in Gujarat. The BJP and the state government under Narendra Modi singled out STAR News and banned cable operators from showing the channel in the state. The viewers in Ahmedabad, one of the worst affected regions in the riots, were left with blank television screens, unaware of the reality happening on the streets. Cable operators received calls from local officials in Ahmedabad and other cities to completely blackout STAR News, Zee News, CNN and Aaj Tak. Dossiers and “hitlists” on journalists were reportedly prepared while the channels which dared to reveal the truth and were critical of the Chief Minister and his plan of actions were not invited to the press conferences and hence were denied the basic right to information by the state itself.”

One sees this model amplified in its worst possible form with – whose control is currently concentrated in the hands of corporate conglomerates with firm affiliations to the Indian state apparatus. This facilitation of the development of a monolithic opinion that centralizes hate is strengthened by the hostile crackdown on independent media outlets covering communal hatred and opposing the regime’s machinery. Over the course of the last month, the websites of multiple independent news media platforms such as that of The Wire, Maktoob Media, have been blocked by the government. One could also think of the temporarily blocking of the X account of Anuradha Bhasin, editor of Kashmir Times. In the last few years, the Indian government has zeroed down on completely dismantling press freedom by revoking non-profit status from independent news media outlets, routinely charging journalists with sedition and terrorism – and even monitoring them with the Israeli spyware, Pegasus. One must also remember, that several of the most powerful accused of the Gujarat riots have been released, and now roam free, having escaped through loopholes and intentional pardoning.

This however does not absolve less powerful or non-media actors of their role in furthering the bile of “revenge”. Al Jazeera found almost 20 songs that built on Hindutva-aligning sentiments that were meant to be incendiary. While H-Pop (Hindutva Pop) with a high degree of hate content has been a visible phenomenon over the past decade, Caravan and CJP have analysed these, Pahalgam gave this new hate music market a new focus and twist. All of these songs infiltrated into the timelines of Indian social media users, with outright calls for Hindus to identify the “traitors within the country”. At the same time, politicians and members of the Hindu right continued with the single focus agenda which is to lace every issue, every speech with its own peculiar dose of targeted hate.

According to our data, there were over 100 instances of hate speeches in the country. Here is an example, on May 5, in Bankura, West Bengal BJP MP Saumitra Khan, while submitting a memorandum demanding the deportation of alleged Pakistani nationals residing in the state, “urged Hindus to sell their land and houses only to fellow Hindus. He alleged that once their children move away and they pass away, Rohingyas would eventually occupy their homes”. In another instance, on May 4, BJP MLA Ravinder Singh Negi, “speaking at a religious event in a temple, claimed that Muslims train their children to become extremists in madrasas instead of providing them with proper education. He questioned why Hindus could not raise their children as extremists in temples. He also invoked the Pahalgam attack and dog-whistled for a boycott of those he described as ‘traitors’ within the country.”

One often sees politicians attributing the rise in communalism to the populace, rather than the multiple perpetrators of the same. Here, we could think of the concept of Astroturfing — which “is the deceptive practice of hiding the sponsors of an orchestrated message or organization (e.g., political, economic, advertising, religious, or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from, and is supported by, unsolicited grassroots participants.” This could simply be translated to this: it is a process where a top-down method of dissemination is falsely recognised or propagated as a bottom-up one. If we were to integrate this conceptual framework with what Nalin Mehta writes in Modi and the Camera: The Politics of Television in the 2002 Gujarat Riots — “For our purpose, John B. Thompson’s notion of ‘mediated communication’, where he taps into the hermeneutic tradition to postulate that individuals are not passive recipients of symbolic messages from the communication media, is also pertinent. Messages from the mass media are received in settings spatially and temporally remote from the original context of production and the recipient’s own assumptions and expectations regulate how they are interpreted and appropriated,” – we would understand why things are the way they happen to be.

Responses

The institutional / state response to most of these hate crimes have not been very appropriate, with an observable systemic apathy in the nature of action taken by the administration / police forces. Most Chief Ministers of the states in question have not addressed the rising  tensions within their respective states, instead focusing on urging for befitting replies and prices that need to be paid. The police have been no better, in most cases being entirely absent from the scenes of violence, in others being complicit in institutional violence.

Graph representing the response of police in respective cases of hate crimes

Out of 180 data entries that were made situations where it was
Unclear if there was a case filed: 135 cases
Institutional Violence: 7 cases
Appropriate / Immediate police action: 15 cases
Definitively no case filed: 6
Police took action that harmed the Muslim victim: 17 cases

Out of the 39 cases that had clear police involvement, 53% or 24 of those cases were ones where the police were complicit outright. The other thing to be mentioned here is in all the cases where we are dealing with unclear police involvement, we are unsure whether no case has been filed or whether attempts were made and then rejected.

The worst affected, however, have been Kashmiris and Kashmiri Muslims, in particular. Following the Pahalgam attack, surveillance has intensified in Kashmir. According to Kashmir Times, “In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, security forces have launched extensive operations across Kashmir, demolishing about a dozen houses using explosives and conducting widespread searches and detentions. At least 1500 people are said to have been detained. The demolitions have occurred in multiple districts including Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Kupwara, and Bandipora”.  There have been multiple incidents of Kashmiri students being harassed in other states, creating an almost paranoid sense of hypervigilance among these individuals. Kashmiri businessmen have also found themselves in trouble, where selling their wares has become near-impossible within the current climate.

Mirza Waheed, writer born in Srinagar, Kashmir, wrote for The Guardian, “Kashmiris have never wanted to be a bone of contention between the two states; they have paid a staggeringly steep price for this 75-year relationship of attrition. Internally, Kashmir has never really been normal, despite the narrative push and despite the appearance of normality, scripted elsewhere and executed on the ground through a security-administrative complex. Underneath the quiet, there is growing resentment at what Kashmiris see as their incremental and cumulative dispossession and disempowerment, in the form of new domicile and land laws, and in the absence of any real representational politics. Human rights activists, journalists and politicians remain in jail under harsh anti-terror laws. Nobody is allowed to speak; surveillance is probably at its highest since the start of the armed insurgency in the late 1980s; a previously independent and robust press has almost entirely been forced into a supine, compliant role. Most accounts from Kashmir speak of suppressed anger at the growing powerlessness and the humiliating deprivation of agency. Many Kashmiris talk about dham, a quiet, bruising suffocation, with no space to breathe. That all this is fertile ground for militancy is hardly a surprise, whether local or Pakistan-sponsored.”

All seems to remain unwell, in the land of what has turned out to be the homeland of misdiagnosed glory and gore.

(The legal research team of CJP consists of lawyers and interns; this graphic visualisation report has been worked on by Saptaparma Samajdar)

Sources

1. https://m.thewire.in/article/media/communalisation-pahalgam-reinforcing-anti-muslim-sentiment
2. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/29/traitors-hate-filled-songs-target-indian-muslims-after-kashmir-attack
3. https://muslimmirror.com/right-wing-media-channels-peddle-anti-muslim-narratives-after-pahalgam-attack/
4. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-cm-condemns-terror-attack-in-jks-pahalgam-3505295
5. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/kashmir-domicile-law-raises-fears-of-losing-land-culture-idUSKCN24T007/
6. https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/country-specialists/five-years-silence-and-struggle-kashmir
7. https://article-14.com/post/-what-did-i-do-after-pahalgam-attack-kashmiri-students-in-at-least-4-northern-states-face-intimidation-threats-isolation–680b16d1a8d53
8. https://www.thehindu.com/education/pahalgam-attack-casts-a-shadow-over-jammu-and-kashmir-students-outside-state/article69531760.ece
9. https://www.dw.com/en/india-pakistan-conflict-risks-deepening-religious-tensions/a-72529635
10. https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1080/00856400601031989
11. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/05/03/india-media-freedom-under-threat#:~:text=Amid%20growing%20restrictions%20on%20media,spyware%20Pegasus%20to%20target%20journalists.
12. https://cjp.org.in/role-of-the-media-how-hate-was-spread-in-2002-in-gujarat/

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While acts of terror have been defined, defining terrorism is not easy and no such definition could be articulated even by the UN bodies working on this. As far as India is concerned it has been witnessing regular killings in Kashmir by the insane acts of brain washed Muslim youth. India saw the 26/11 2008 attack in Mumbai in which nearly 200 people lost their lives. Very interestingly Hemant Karkare, the then Anti-Terrorist Squad chief of Maharashtra was killed during this attack.

Parallel to this we also witnessed the acts of terror beginning in Nanded (2006) and later four major places, Malegaon, Ajmer, Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad) and Samjhuata Express. For Malegaon related blast, NIA is demanding death penalty for Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP MP, whose motor cycle was the instrument used in Malegaon. Along with her Lt Col Purohit is also being tried and other names which came into picture were those of Swami Aseemanand, Major (retd) Upadhyay and many those who had affiliation to Hindutva politics.

As India faces these acts of terror, it is imperative that we give a serious thought to the root of global terror and its impact on India. While the security measures undertaken at the moment are being questioned as earlier Pulwama and now Pahalgam terror attacks have shown chinks in our armour, there are some deeper issues which India needs to collaborate with global agencies in eradicating some of these.

At one level the terrorist groups which are affecting India, have bases in Pakistan. The plight of Pakistan is pathetic as it is not only an agency of acts of terror; it is also the victim of this dastardly phenomenon. The present terror acts are taking place in Kashmir. The major actors involved in this tragedy in Kashmir are offshoots of terror groups, which came up in the aftermath of the American project of countering the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

As the US was in no position to take on the Russian army’s presence in Afghanistan, it promoted Madrassas in Pakistan which gave training to Muslim youth; Taliban and its later clones was the result. Mahmood Mamdani in his well-researched book, ‘Good Muslim Bad Muslim’, tells us how the syllabus of these Madras’s was prepared in Washington. Communists were presented as Kafirs. Killing Kafirs was propagated as the goal and in the achievement of this goal, even if one loses life, Jannat was assured. America spent eight thousand million dollars in these madrassas and provided them with 7000 tons of armaments, which included the latest stinger missiles.

The same phenomenon of terror, promotion of which was the imperialist ambitions of America in controlling the oil wealth of West Asia, did assume dangerous proportions creating havoc in the region. Just to remind it was this era when Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilizations’ thesis was ruling the roost. To the global good fortune, Kofi Annan the UN Secretary General appointed a high level committee to examine ‘Clash of Civilization’ in particular.

This committee came out with a report “Alliance of Civilizations” which concluded that the World has progressed due to the alliance of Civilizations. This report did not get projections from various quarters. The Islamophobia planted by the acts of terror and the negative role of American media was so intense that at places copies of the Koran were burnt.

The terror phenomenon turned into Frankenstein’s monster. While it played its negative role at multiple levels, it turned into destruction recklessly and Pakistan has also been a victim of this phenomenon. One recalls the Ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was killed in one such attack by the terror groups. GTI (Global Terror Index) is a composite measure made up of four indicators: incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages. To measure the impact of terrorism, a five-year weighted average is applied. In this Pakistan is 2^nd and India 14^th . Meaning the acts of terror have tormented Pakistan much more than India.

No wonder that the victims of terrorism are more in Pakistan, as it is the madrassas in Pakistan where the training was given. While India has to ensure that no acts of terror take place in India, there is also a need to understand that this cancer of terror sown by imperialist ambitions for control over oil can be eradicated by cooperation at global level.

“…Pakistan—a country repeatedly labelled as the “global exporter of terror”—has been appointed to chair the United Nations Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee in 2025. Simultaneously, it will serve as vice-chair of the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee.” Surely this tells a complex tale.

There are many factors controlling the policies of Pakistan, the emerging angle of China is yet another of these. While Pakistan needs to be held accountable, there is also a need to ensure that it is brought to the discussion table to get rid of this scourge. To prevent terror attacks in India all steps in promoting democracy in Kashmir are the need of the hour.

We are at present facing multiple dilemmas. The progress of Kashmir is static despite its vast potential. Pakistan needs to engage at multiple levels to ensure the eradication of the cancerous growth of terrorist violence. At a subtle level there is a propaganda associating Islam, Muslims with the phenomenon of terror. This understanding lacks a deeper understanding of the peculiar circumstances in which the American designs to control over West Asian oil resources has operated and led to the present impasse. Symptomatic countering of this dastardly phenomenon needs to be added on with the deeper analysis of the global scenario where dominant American policies have played a ruinous role in promoting this phenomenon and is now washing its hands off it.

The writer is a human rights activist, who taught at IIT Bombay. The views are personal.

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This means that South Asia has one of the highest population densities in the world, estimated as the number of people living in one square km.

While the entire world has a population density of about 60, South Asia has a population density of 303, over five times the world average.

In several cities of South Asia the population density can be many times more. In the most densely populated district of Karachi Central, the population density is 55,396. In Kolkata this is 24,252.

One of the implications of very high population density is that in any modern-day war which uses very destructive weapons, loss of life can potentially be much higher compared to most other countries. To mention two war and civil war-ravaged countries which have suffered high war-related mortality in recent times, Ukraine has population density of 67 while Sudan has population density of 29. This gives an indication of potentially how high war mortality can be in conditions of very high population density that prevail in South Asia.

These and several other facts regarding very high risks must be kept in consideration at a time when a lot of concern is being expressed regarding the increasing possibilities of escalation of war-risks involving India and Pakistan.

However the single most important factor is not regarding the risk escalation of recent days. The most important fact is that India and Pakistan have stepped back from such high risk situations in the past to avoid war. If they could do so in the past, they should be able to do so now too, thereby saving South Asia from massive distress and disaster.

Both sides are heavily armed and are in a position to procure more weapons from bigger powers. Both sides are nuclear weapon powers and there are estimates of the two countries having a total of about 340 nuclear weapons, more or less in equal numbers.

War involving any such two countries A and B may take this path—in the first few days there is high loss of life from conventional weapons on both sides but with the passage of time the bigger conventional power A gains a clear edge, and then faced with a serious crisis, the weaker power B resorts to using nuclear weapons and in reply immediately the stronger power A also uses nuclear weapons.

Of course this is not a very likely path as leaders of both countries being well aware of the unacceptably high dangers of nuclear weapons are likely to stop short of using these but at the same time the possibility of use of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out entirely, and this is a very big risk indeed, an unacceptably high risk.

The risks have also increased at present because of other big wars occupying the attention of great powers. However even otherwise the will-power for playing non-partisan mediator role has reduced and instead there is much more arbitrariness in evidence at the international level. The role of the United Nations has been steadily becoming less significant.

At the same time the existence of bilateral security arrangements or risk-minimizing arrangements between India and Pakistan are extremely weak and inadequate just now.

Hence the best policy for both countries is to quickly move back from any risks of war. Leaders of both countries simply have to display greater maturity and commitment to peace and if they do so, history will still remember them for saving South Asia from disaster.

People of both countries have deep respect for several sacred sites and places of great cultural heritage located in the other country. People of both countries have much to benefit from having better relations with each other. Let us not forget all this in the heat of the present day intense hostilities. If good sense of quickly stopping further escalation prevails today, in the coming years this wisdom and good sense will be greatly appreciated by the people as well as the upcoming generation.

The world is already deeply troubled by war and conflict. Let us not add to this by igniting a new one between two nuclear weapon countries. No other kind of war can be more risky than a war between two nuclear weapon countries.

Both countries have important development challenges ahead of them. The path of development and meeting the needs and aspirations of all people will be seriously harmed if war breaks out.

If this war breaks out then everyone involved will suffer to some extent and in some way or the other, and in the worst case scenario there will be the kind of massive destruction that only nuclear weapons can cause. Neighbouring countries not involved in the war will also be very adversely affected.

So the leaders of both the countries should do their best to avoid the possibility of such a war.

(The author is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071 and Man over Machine—A Path to Peace)           

The post South Asia must stay away from war: High risks and costs for all appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to reports from the Superintendent of Police, the attack took place around 9:00 am on April 22, when most villagers were away in their fields for cultivation work. Taking advantage of their absence, unknown assailants set multiple homes ablaze, triggering panic and displacement in the already fragile region. In response, Kamjong District Magistrate Rangnamei Rang Peter invoked Section 163(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to issue emergency prohibitory orders.

The curfew prohibits the movement of all persons outside their homes and bars any activity that could disturb peace and public order in the affected areas. Only personnel involved in essential services and law enforcement have been exempted. Anyone wishing to organise processions for weddings, funerals, or religious or cultural events within the restricted zones must obtain prior written permission from the District Magistrate or the Superintendent of Police. To ensure on-ground implementation and oversight, Hungyo Yurreikan, Sub-Divisional Collector of Sahamphung, has been appointed Executive Magistrate for the affected village jurisdictions, as per a report of India Today NE.

The incident has been widely condemned by tribal civil society groups. In a joint statement, five Kuki-Zo-Hmar organisations, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), denounced the attack as a targeted assault on innocent Kuki civilians. “These heinous acts of arson have devastated lives, destroyed homes, and terrorised a community already grappling with ethnic tension and insecurity,” the statement read, as per The Tribune.

The organisations described the attack as part of a disturbing pattern of systemic violence, displacement, and discrimination against the Kuki-Zo people. They criticised the Government of India for its continued failure to uphold constitutional duties and protect vulnerable communities in the state. “It is deeply alarming that such acts of terror persist under the government’s watch, at a time when the region demands urgent, just, and sensitive intervention,” they said, the report of YesPunjab said.

In addition to condemning the violence, the tribal bodies called for the immediate rehabilitation of affected families and the deployment of neutral and adequate security forces in Gampal and Haiyang to ensure safety and deter further attacks. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing. With tensions running high and the threat of escalation looming, residents have been urged to remain indoors and extend full cooperation to security personnel patrolling the area.

Related:

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Manipur tensions escalate over free movement policy: Kuki-Zo resistance and government crackdown

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigns amid political turmoil and ethnic unrest

Supreme Court seeks forensic report on audio recordings alleging Manipur CM’s role in ethnic violence

The post Curfew imposed in Kamjong District after arson attack destroys Kuki homes in Gampal and Haiyang appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On the afternoon of April 22, the area was bustling with families, couples, and individual tourists. Many were enjoying tea and snacks after a trek or pony ride to the high-altitude meadow, unaware of the horror about to unfold.

At approximately 2:45 pm, peace was torn apart when a group of four heavily armed militants, disguised in camouflage uniforms, emerged from the forest surrounding Baisaran. Without warning, they opened fire on the unsuspecting tourists, unleashing a hail of bullets that reverberated across the valley.

Witnesses described a scene of sheer panic and terror. Tourists, many of them with children, fled in every direction. One survivor from Nagpur, Simran Chandani, spoke to The Times of India and recalled the chaos: “We had just finished our tea and were preparing to leave. Suddenly, we heard what we thought was a balloon bursting, and then came the screams, the stampede. I ran, taking the name of God.”

Initial reports confirmed 28 civilians killed—most of them tourists—and many more injured, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India since the 2008 Mumbai carnage. Questions have been raised regarding the absence of any police, paramilitary, or army in or around the place of attack, as a large number of tourists were present at the Baisaran meadow. As per media accounts, ANI, PTI, Greater Kashmir, about six armed gunmen first encircled then selectively shot dead the men from among several visitors gathered there.

Claim of responsibility and motive

A group of four, including two locals, identifying itself as Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a front for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the heinous assault. The group cited opposition to the recent settlement of more than 85,000 outsiders in the region as their justification—a deeply troubling development, hinting at targeted violence based on identity and residency. Sketches of the suspected attackers—identified as Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha (aliases Moosa, Yunus, and Asif)—were released shortly after the attack. 

Targeted horror and eyewitness testimony

A report of Deccan Herald provided the account of survivors, who says that the militants deliberately targeted men, asking them to identify themselves and even allegedly forcing some to recite Islamic verses. There were claims that some were made to remove clothing before being executed at close range. Although these details are still being verified, the cruelty and premeditation behind the attack are undeniable.

The firings lasted an excruciating 20 to 25 minutes at least, as per multiple media reports. Over 70 shell casings—belonging to American M4 carbine rifles and AK-47s—were found at the scene. The attackers later vanished into the forested terrain, triggering a massive search operation by Indian security forces.

One local, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator, emerged as a tragic hero. He attempted to disarm one of the terrorists in a desperate bid to protect a tourist under his care. Shah was shot dead during the attempt—becoming the only Kashmiri local killed in the attack. His grieving family, now without its only breadwinner, has appealed for justice.

The Victims: Lives interrupted, dreams extinguished

The true weight of the Pahalgam attack is not in the number of bullets fired or shell casings recovered, but in the lives so brutally cut short. Each victim was more than a statistic—they were sons, daughters, parents, and partners.

Among those killed was a young Indian Navy officer on his honeymoon, his uniform traded for a few days of peace in the hills. A retired banker from Andhra Pradesh was also gunned down without warning. A realtor from Karnataka, an accountant from Odisha, and a cement dealer from Uttar Pradesh—each on a simple holiday with loved ones—met the same cruel fate.

There was a man from Kerala who had recently returned from the Gulf, and a tourist from Nepal, the only foreign national killed, whose presence was a reminder of Kashmir’s reputation as a destination that once transcended borders. Now, their names are etched into a grim list of those who never made it home. The tragedy of this attack lies not only in the brutality of the act but in the ordinary, joyful moments it stole. This was not just an attack on individuals—it was an attack on the fundamental human desire to seek beauty, joy, and connection. And that is why it cuts so deep.

A Local Hero: The story of Syed Adil Hussain Shah

As bullets rained down on unsuspecting tourists in Pahalgam, amidst screams and chaos, one man stood his ground—not to flee, but to protect. A Gujjar local Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a humble pony ride operator from Pahalgam, displayed remarkable bravery in the face of terror. NDTV reported his heroic acts in a special report. In a moment that epitomised selflessness, Shah tried to snatch a rifle from one of the gunmen in a desperate attempt to save the tourists he had ferried to the Baisaran meadow. His valiant act cost him his life.

Adil Shah was the only local killed in the brutal attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists. According to eyewitness accounts, the terrorists were selecting victims based on their religion, reportedly asking people to recite a Koranic verse before pulling the trigger. In the midst of this horror, Shah’s actions offered a fleeting glimmer of humanity. He refused to cower—his last moments defined by courage rather than fear.

As reported by NDTV, Adil leaves behind an elderly mother and father, a wife, and young children, all of whom depended on him. The grief in the Shah household is immeasurable. His inconsolable mother wept not only for the irreplaceable loss of her son but also for the uncertain future that now looms over the family. His father, Syed Haider Shah, speaking to ANI, said: “My son went to Pahalgam yesterday to work, and around 3 pm, we heard about the attack. We called him, but his phone was switched off. Later, at 4.40 pm, his phone turned on, but no one answered. We rushed to the police station, and that’s when we learned that he had been shot in the attack. Whoever is responsible must face the consequences.”

#WATCH | J&K | Family member of Anantnag resident Syed Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the #PahalgamTerroristAttack, says, “He (Syed Hussain Shah) had gone to Pahalgam to work… We got information about the attack at 3 pm. When we called (Syed Hussain Shah), the phone was not… pic.twitter.com/8IlX5NKB8j

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Adil’s story is more than a tragedy—it is a testament to the strength of character that often goes unsung in times of crisis. In a region haunted by decades of conflict, his death is a piercing reminder that violence knows no bounds, and its victims are often the very people who strive to preserve life. The family has appealed for justice, and the Valley mourns a son who died not in silence, but in struggle—trying to protect those who had come seeking peace in the meadows of Kashmir.

#WATCH | J&K | Mother of the Anantnag resident Syed Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the #PahalgamTerroristAttack, gets emotional, says, “He was the only bread earner of the family…” pic.twitter.com/W7BgzeVOEC

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

National and international response

The attack drew widespread condemnation and grief from both national and international quarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, immediately cut short his trip and returned to India. In a statement, he described the assault as a “heinous act,” vowed that the perpetrators “will not be spared,” and promised all assistance to the injured and the families of the deceased.

I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected.

Those behind this heinous act will be brought…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2025

Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar to oversee the investigation, while the government decided to transfer the probe from the Jammu and Kashmir Police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), indicating the gravity of the situation.

With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared. pic.twitter.com/bFxb2nDT4H

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2025

US President Donald Trump expressed deep condolences and assured India of America’s full support. The world watched in horror as images and videos of the aftermath—people screaming, bleeding, and desperately pleading for help—circulated across social media.

Across India, political leaders and citizens reacted with grief and anger. Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Rahul Gandhi expressed sorrow and condemnation at the attack but also stated on his account on X that he had spoken to Home Minister, Amit Shah.

“Spoke with HM Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, and J&K PCC President Tariq Karra about the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Received an update on the situation. The families of the victims deserve justice and our fullest support,” Gandhi said.

Spoke with HM Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, and J&K PCC President Tariq Karra about the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Received an update on the situation.

The families of victims deserve justice and our fullest support.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 23, 2025

Rahul Gandhi also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the chairman of the National Conference, which leads the ruling alliance in the Union Territory, with the Congress as a coalition partner. After the 2001 attack on the Parliament, Sonia Gandhi, who was then the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, was among the first leaders to dial the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to enquire about his well-being.

Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah expressed heartbreak over the mass exodus of tourists and urged cooperation with controlled evacuation efforts, given the precarity of local roads.

It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights,… pic.twitter.com/5O3i5U1rBh

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 23, 2025

Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister and PDP leader, led a protest march with party workers in Srinagar. They held placards reading, “This is an attack on all of us” and “Stop innocent killings.” Iltija Mufti, a young local leader, expressed disbelief, saying Baisaran was heavily patrolled and the ease with which such an attack happened was deeply alarming.

This is an attack on all of us. #Pahalgam pic.twitter.com/3NAJKrG0Wp

— J&K PDP (@jkpdp) April 23, 2025

CPI (M) leader and Kulgam MLA MY Tarigami speaking to PTI has said, “It is very unfortunate and painful for all of us. Especially for those whose family members, loved ones have been injured in the attack. When a tourist comes to Jammu and Kashmir, it opens employment opportunities for the locals here… It is a good thing for us when tourists come here again and again, but if they are attacked, then it is very shameful and painful… The government should take strict action against this.”

Condemning the dastardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam. The inhuman act of violence deserves to be denounced in the strongest terms. Such cowardly attacks on innocent civilians have no place in any civilised society.

— M Y Tarigami (@tarigami) April 22, 2025

Senior advocate and independent Rajya Sabha member, Kapil Sibal has, in a statement quoted by PTI stated, “Quoting Pakistan Chief Gen Asim Munir’s ‘jugular vein comment’, Sibal called the attack as a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack. He says, “It will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it, we not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their historic struggle. So obviously this is (Pakistan) state sponsored because this was said just a week ago…. I would urge the Home Minister to proscribe the outfit as a terrorist organisation under UAPA and we should file a prosecution in the International Criminal Court, urge international community to boycott Pakistan.”

Pahalgam
Baisaran Valley
26 dead so far..

This terrorist attack is an attack against humanity clearly sponsored by Pakistan.

General Munir said “Kashmir is our jugular vein..” one week ago

HM must proscribe Pakistan a terrorist state ; a terrorist organisation under UAPA

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 23, 2025

VIDEO | Quoting Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir’s ‘jugular vein’ comment, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) calls Pahalgam terrorist attack as Pakistan sponsored terrorist attack.

He says, “‘It will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it, we will not leave our… pic.twitter.com/CA07QxG0qG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2025

Security and evacuation efforts

In the immediate aftermath, the region saw a significant security build-up. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urged airlines to increase flights from Srinagar and waive rescheduling fees to help tourists evacuate. 

Aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, DGCA issues advisory to airlines over surge in pricing and waiving cancellation charges: DGCA pic.twitter.com/GHzerH1NSw

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Helicopters were deployed to airlift the severely injured, while locals—many of whom make a living from tourism—rushed to carry the wounded down the hill on ponies, a testament to the humanity still present amid horror.

Protests: A valley silenced by grief, united in defiance

This attack has dealt a severe blow to the region’s fragile calm, coming at a time when Kashmir was witnessing a revival in tourism. With the 38-day Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage set to begin in July, concerns over security are likely to grow.

While investigations continue, the horror at Pahalgam has brought back chilling memories of past tragedies in the Valley. It has reminded the country that terrorism still lurks, capable of destroying lives and peace in an instant.

On the morning following the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that left 28 people dead—mostly tourists and local guides—Kashmir awoke to a sight it hadn’t seen in decades. Leading newspapers across the Valley printed their front pages in black, a visual lament echoing the sorrow, fury, and helplessness that had gripped the region. With headlines in stark white and crimson, the media offered a rare and haunting public protest against the brutality that once again ruptured the fragile peace of Jammu and Kashmir.

This is how Kashmir is feeling today. Saluts to the local newspapers: apologies to all Kashmiris for some of the Indian commercial electronic TV channels! https://t.co/dVycluuuwJ

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) April 23, 2025

Prominent English and Urdu dailies—Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, Aftab, and Taameel Irshad—eschewed the usual format, opting instead for a symbolic blackout. Greater Kashmir led with the chilling headline: “Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving”, its subheading in blood red: “26 killed in deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.” The editorial beneath, titled “The massacre in the meadow – Protect Kashmir’s soul,” did not mince words. It described the assault not merely as a massacre but as an existential threat— “a deliberate blow to Kashmir’s identity and values — its hospitality, its economy, and its fragile peace.”

https://t.co/IJhRewSpKd #PahalgamTerroristAttack #pahalgamattack #PahalgamTerrorAttack

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) April 23, 2025

The editorial called for an urgent reimagining of security and intelligence coordination in the Valley. “The ability of terrorists to infiltrate a high-traffic, pedestrian-only tourist site undetected,” it warned, “points to severe gaps in our preventive mechanisms.” It urged a shift from reactive to proactive governance—demanding not just increased surveillance, but greater community engagement and a concerted effort to uproot terror infrastructure.

In a dramatic shift not witnessed since the early 1990s, the entire Kashmir Valley observed a total shutdown in response to the killings—marking the first bandh called to protest terrorism in over 35 years. The call for the shutdown was widely endorsed across the political spectrum and sections of civil society, including religious organisations, business federations, students’ unions, and trade bodies.

As per Hindustan Times, shops, fuel stations, and businesses remained closed in Srinagar and other districts. Public transport was scarce. Only essential services operated, and private vehicles plied the roads cautiously. Private schools suspended classes, while Kashmir University postponed all examinations. The silence that enveloped the Valley was not one of fear but of collective mourning—an unspoken but palpable declaration of unity against the forces that sought to terrorise the region.

Throughout the day, spontaneous and organised protests emerged in all corners of Kashmir. In Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, Mehbooba Mufti joined grieving citizens in a rare display of civilian solidarity. Holding placards that read “Stop innocent killings” and “Killing innocents is an act of terror,” protesters demanded accountability and protection. Addressing the crowd, Mufti said, “This massacre is not just an attack on tourists, but an attack on the very soul of Kashmir. We have always stood against violence, and we will continue to raise our voice until the bloodshed ends.”

Killing innocents is an act of terror. Jammu & Kashmir stands against it. This attack is an attack on all of us. pic.twitter.com/Kc7BiesI4C

— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) April 23, 2025

No to Killings. No to Terror. We stand in shame and sorrow. #PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/pP6lY0oyl8

— Yasir Reshi (@YasirrReshi) April 23, 2025

South Kashmir towns like Anantnag, Kulgam, and Shopian saw markets voluntarily shut down. In Ganderbal and Kangan, traders staged processions through town squares, closing their establishments in mourning. Civil society participation was overwhelming. The Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU)—a collective of Islamic scholars led by Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq—issued a rare joint appeal for peace and justice. Quoting the Quran during Friday prayers, the Mirwaiz said: “Whoever kills an innocent soul… it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” He urged the people to observe the shutdown not in vengeance but as a dignified protest against a “heinous crime against humanity.”

#WATCH | J&K | Locals hold a protest against #PahalgamTerrorAttack in Pulwama. pic.twitter.com/Gmgz1y8eE6

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

#WATCH | In light of the tragic killing of innocent civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam, government employees across Jammu and Kashmir observe a two-minute silence as a mark of respect and solidarity

(Visuals from Jammu) pic.twitter.com/XMoCYHHfkW

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Political parties that have often found themselves at ideological odds—National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference, Apni Party—all joined in a chorus of condemnation, signalling a rare moment of political consensus in the Valley. Leaders across affiliations called for a unified approach to security, a reaffirmation of Kashmir’s commitment to peace, and a crackdown on the networks enabling such attacks.

On social media, heartbreak and solidarity flowed freely. A photo of a woman cradling her husband’s bloodied body outside a hospital in Anantnag became emblematic of the grief sweeping through the Valley. Tributes poured in not just for the tourists who perished, but for local guides, porters, and shopkeepers who died helping others flee.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Pahalgam terrorist attack, Senior advocate Kapil Sibal says, “Those responsible for this should be prosecuted in the international court. I urge the Home Minister to proscribe Pakistan as a terrorist state and move the International Criminal Court. I am sure… pic.twitter.com/eYHdRnUHRy

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

In Baramulla, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil led by students, while in Pulwama, elderly citizens marched silently, holding signs that read “We are Kashmiris, not terrorists.” In Budgam, schoolteachers and parents formed human chains outside education offices, denouncing the return of fear in a region already battered by decades of trauma.

Significantly, for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the administration did not clamp down on protest rallies. Officials confirmed that while security was heightened across sensitive areas, demonstrations were allowed to proceed. “We recognised that this was not an ordinary political agitation. This is a collective tragedy,” a senior police officer said. “The public anger is real, it is justified—and today, the people of Kashmir have made it clear: they reject terror in all its forms.”

The day-long shutdown, though sombre, was not a surrender to fear. It was a powerful, united act of remembrance and resistance—a statement that Kashmiris will not let violence define them. 

Other reports on the Pahalgam terror attack may be read here and here,

Related:

Muslims in Kashmir & across India strongly condemn Pahalgam terror attack

Indian Muslims, others, condemn the heinous massacre of tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir

The post A Tranquil Paradise Shattered: The Pahalgam terror attack appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A resolution passed unanimously by the Full Court expressed deep sorrow, stating that the “diabolical act of mindless violence” had shaken the collective conscience of the nation. It further read, “The Supreme Court of India pays its respectful tribute to the innocent lives brutally and prematurely lost. Our heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured.”

Supreme Court condemns the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. pic.twitter.com/MRMSo8MCzX

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 23, 2025

The resolution also remarked on the symbolic nature of the attack, targeting tourists who were simply enjoying the natural beauty of Kashmir, and emphasised that it stood as a stark reminder of the brutality that terrorism entails. As a mark of solidarity, the Judges, lawyers, and Registry staff observed a two-minute silence at 2 pm today.

Supreme Court to observe two minutes’ silence to pay tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. pic.twitter.com/dYuNv3cRBK

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 23, 2025

Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) stands in solidarity

Joining the chorus of condemnation, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) also passed a resolution decrying the attack. The Association expressed solidarity with the victims and the people of Jammu & Kashmir, stating, “It is our earnest prayer that peace, unity, and harmony prevail, so that our nation continues to progress in strength and brotherhood.”

Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association passes resolution condemning the heinous terrorist attack at Pahalgam. pic.twitter.com/f6ptbfKjRH

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 23, 2025

To honour the victims, nearly 300 advocates gathered at the Supreme Court lawns wearing white ribbons. The assembly served as both a solemn tribute and a symbolic act of unity against terror.

Lawyers gather in #SupremeCourtofIndia lawns to condemn #PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/yMm1G7djQ0

— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) April 23, 2025

Jammu and Kashmir legal fraternity calls for mourning and protest

In a significant gesture of protest and mourning, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA), Srinagar, strongly condemned the terrorist assault, calling it a “cowardly and barbaric attack” on innocent civilians and tourists. The Association announced a complete shutdown of judicial work across the High Court at Srinagar and all subordinate courts and tribunals on April 23.

Advocate Waseem Gul, President of JKHCBA, spoke to the Tribune and expressed profound sorrow and described the incident as an “unforgivable act of violence” that had no place in a civilised society. He stated, “We denounce this brutal assault on innocent lives, which seeks to disrupt the peace and harmony of Jammu and Kashmir. The legal fraternity stands united in condemning this barbarity.”

The Jammu wing of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association also announced a complete suspension of court work on April 23 in solidarity with the victims. Bar President K. Nirmal Kotwal released a statement affirming the Association’s support: “We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery for the injured.”

In a rare and powerful display of unity, political parties, civil society organisations, traders, and transport unions across Jammu called for a Jammu Bandh. The Chamber of Commerce & Industry and transport unions pledged full support, leading to a complete shutdown of public transport and commercial establishments across the region as a mark of protest and mourning.

Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court requests advocates, officials at Srinagar Bench to assemble at court for observing two minutes silence to pay tribute to victims of Pahalgam terror attack. pic.twitter.com/D5In9azEyk

— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) April 23, 2025

Bar Associations Of Jammu & Srinagar To Observe Bandh In Protest Against Pahalgam Terror Attack#Pahalgamhttps://t.co/RqTn9zXZN5

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 23, 2025

Delhi High Court Bar Association reacts with protest and solidarity

As per LiveLaw, Echoing sentiments from the legal fraternity nationwide, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) issued a strong statement condemning the attack as a “dastardly and cowardly act” that deliberately targeted innocent lives. DHCBA President and senior advocate N Hariharan, in a press release, described the attack as a direct challenge to the unity and sovereignty of India.

As a gesture of protest and solidarity, ANI reported that members of the DHCBA wore black ribbons on their arms during court proceedings.

Wider legal fraternity unites in condemnation

Across the Union Territory, various bar associations joined in expressing outrage. The Kashmir Jurists Bar Association attributed the attack to Pakistan-sponsored elements, labelling it an “inhuman assault on peaceful civilians.” They urged authorities to take firm action and adopt robust security measures to safeguard the lives of civilians in the future.

Adding its voice to the growing chorus, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association issued a statement strongly condemning the Pahalgam killings. In their message, the Association said, “We urge the Government of India to take swift and the severest possible action to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the perpetrators.”

Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association condemns #Pahalgam killings.

“We urge the Government of India to take swift and the severest possible action to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the perpetrators.” pic.twitter.com/rQwLILXCZn

— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) April 23, 2025

The Pahalgam terror attack has not only left a trail of destruction but has also triggered a profound and united response from India’s legal fraternity. From the Supreme Court to regional bar associations, legal institutions across the country have spoken in one voice—condemning the attack, mourning the victims, and calling for swift justice. Their solidarity underscores a shared commitment to peace, the rule of law, and the values of humanity that terrorism seeks to undermine.

Other reports on the Pahalgam terror attack may be read here and here,

Related:

Muslims in Kashmir & across India strongly condemn Pahalgam terror attack

Indian Muslims, others, condemn the heinous massacre of tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir

The post SC leads the nation’s legal fraternity as it unites in grief & outrage over Pahalgam terror attack appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The attack in #Pahalgam was strongly condemned from several mosques across #JammuAndKashmir.

Imams called the killing of tourists inhuman and against the teachings of Islam. They prayed for the victims and demanded justice.#PahalgamTerroristAttack #PahalgamTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/ktWmnUBxqt

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) April 23, 2025

This immediate reaction –news came in by 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 22— of the Muslim community in the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir opening doors of mosques to accommodate the tourists from different parts stranded due to closure of Jammu following the attack.

As immediate humanitarian assistance, the Pahalgam Anantnag Tourist Stand Association President extends support, offering blood and cash assistance to needy tourists.

Pahalgam Anantnag Tourist Stand Association President extends support, offering blood and cash assistance to needy tourists. #PahalgamAttack #TouristSupport #Kashmir #kashmirattack #Pahalgam pic.twitter.com/iL6cv8Zjxo

— Kashmir Outlook (@kashmiroutlook1) April 22, 2025

Locals also held a candlelight vigil late evening Tuesday expressing their anger, distress and condemnation of the senseless killings

Pahalgam Attack: Locals Hold Candlelight March pic.twitter.com/a1yAJB550K

— Kashmir Life (@KashmirLife) April 22, 2025

This is our teaching of Islam unlike you all who always celebrated our misery. Muslim of Pahalgam protesting the terror attack

This is our teaching of Islam unlike you all who always celebrated our misery.
Muslim of Pahalgam protesting. #PahalgamTerrorAttack
pic.twitter.com/EwXNBsWYKa

— Adv Rukhsana Sayed (@Umm_e_meerann) April 22, 2025

Here are more visuals of the people of Pahalgam condemning terror attack.

Kashmiri media

April 23, dawn, and several prominent newspapers in Kashmir on Wednesday printed their front pages black to protest the brutal terrorist attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead in the Pahalgam hill resort the previous day. The striking act of protest by the newspapers, each bearing powerful headlines in white or red, was a powerful public display of solidarity and grief, symbolising the collective sorrow felt by the residents and the media over the inhuman act. Editorials too were unequivocal, read here.

Besides, on April 23, all of the Valley was shut down completely in grief and condemnation. This followed a call by business and travel trade bodies across the Valley that made the announcement within hours of receiving news of the attack. They announced a complete shutdown on Wednesday to condemn the attack. This has been described as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent years, sending shockwaves through the region and sparking national outrage. The shutdown had been jointly called by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK), Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC), All Travel Associations, transporters, restaurant owners, and various civil society organizations.

Indian Muslims, religious and others condemn Pahalgam attack

By Wednesday afternoon, over a dozen religious leaders and other organisations had condemned the attack.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) among others have also strongly condemned the heinous terrorist targeting of tourists near Pahalgam in the Kashmir valley, killing 26 innocents and injuring several others on April 22. “We join all fellow Indians in offering our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. And call upon the central and state governments to ensure urgent and adequate compensation for the loss of precious lives and proper treatment of the injured.” The rest of the statement from civil society may be read here.

Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has strongly condemned the deadly terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, on Tuesday.” The loss of innocent lives, including foreign tourists, is deeply heart-breaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their grieving families, his public statement read, adding, “There can be no justification for such a barbaric act. It is completely inhuman and deserves absolute and unequivocal condemnation. Those responsible must be brought to justice and given the harshest punishment.”

I strongly condemn the deadly terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, on Tuesday. The loss of innocent lives, including foreign tourists, is deeply heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their grieving families.

There can be no… pic.twitter.com/lokdbK92gN

— Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (@JIHMarkaz) April 22, 2025

Bengaluru, Karnataka: The Jama Masjid Imam, Maulana Maqsood Iimran Rashadi says, “… This was a cowardly attack. I don’t understand what they (attackers) want to prove by doing such acts. This is Hindustan and we love Hindustan… We strongly condemn this terrorist attack on tourists, and strongly appeal to the government to punish these terrorists in such a way that no other terrorist dares to attack like this. They (terrorists) should be hanged in public… Islam does not allow such acts…”

#WATCHB | #PahalgamTerrorAttack | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Jama Masjid Imam, Maulana Maqsood Iimran Rashadi says, “… This was a cowardly attack. I don’t understand what they (attackers) want to prove by doing such acts. This is Hindustan and we love Hindustan… We strongly… pic.twitter.com/Gpsig3BvwH

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

“I strongly Condom Pahalgam Terror Attack, said Maulana Sayed Moinuddin Ashraf (Moin Miyan) President All India Sunni Jamiatul Olama.”

We Strongly Condom Pahalgam Terror Attack. Said Maulana Sayed Moinuddin Ashraf (Moin Miyan) President All India Sunni Jamiatul Olama. #maulanasayedmoinuddinashraf #moinemillat #MoinMiyan #allindiasunnijamiatulolama #pehalgam pic.twitter.com/IlpEAsKsEH

— MD RASHID (@MDRASHI08328411) April 23, 2025

Also, the Lucknow Eidgah Imam, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, “We condemn in the strongest possible words the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Today, we have organised a special prayer by students at Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal, Lucknow and Shaheen Academy. We demand that the Indian government ensure that the killers are punished severely. We appeal to the people of Pahalgam to maintain peace and communal harmony.”

#WATCH | Lucknow Eidgah Imam, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali says, “We condemn in the strongest possible words the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Today, we have organised a special prayers by students at Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal, Lucknow and Shaheen Academy. We demand… pic.twitter.com/PCSUUWPYIV

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Other individual condemnations

The cricketer Mohammed Siraj called for terrorists to be punished without mercy: ‘Yeh kaisi ladai hai…,’ he is reported to have said.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, India has also expressed its anguish and “offered its deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers to the victims and their grieving families. In their statement, they said, “Innocent lives lost to senseless violence is a tragedy for all of humanity. Islam strictly forbids all forms of terrorism and compels Muslims to uphold peace, justice, and the sanctity of life. The Holy Qur’an states: “Whosoever killed a person… it shall be as if he had killed all mankind.” (5:33) We stand united with our fellow citizens in this moment of grief and urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators of this inhumane act swiftly to justice. May India remain a land of peace, compassion, and unity for people of all faiths and backgrounds.

We strongly condemn the cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, India offers its deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers to the victims and their grieving families. Innocent lives lost to senseless violence is a tragedy for all of… pic.twitter.com/CNqkSvPklb

— Islam in India (@islaminind) April 22, 2025

Related:

Indian Muslims, others, condemn the heinous massacre of tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir

The post Muslims in Kashmir & across India strongly condemn Pahalgam terror attack appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a statement issues today representatives of these organisations have said,

“We join all fellow Indians in offering our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. And call upon the central and state governments to ensure urgent and adequate compensation for the loss of precious lives and proper treatment of the injured.

“According to some reports, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, has claimed responsibility for the strike.

“We hope that the perpetrators are swiftly apprehended, brought to justice and handed severe punishments.

“IMSD, Bebak Collective, BMMA, CSSS and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) have always opposed any targeting of innocent civilians anywhere, irrespective of the cause offered as justification for such savagery.

“The terror attack hits at the heart of the Valley’s tourism centre, Pahalgam, putting a big question mark on claims of “return of normalcy”.

“The latest mass killing raises disturbing questions about the failure of security agencies in ensuring adequate cover in and around Pahalgam, among the obvious targets of terrorist groups.

“We demand a thorough enquiry into such a grievous security lapse, fixing of responsibility and necessary action.

“Meanwhile, in this moment of grief and anguish, we are heartened by the humanity displayed by the average Kashmiri Muslim. On Wednesday (April 23) the entire Valley observed a complete bandh: shopkeepers, traders, transporters. Reports across Kashmir of Mosques opening their doors to assist distraught tourists are pouring in as are reports of open condemnations from the Mosques calling this terror attack an attack on humanity itself.

“Kashmiri newspapers have in their editorials and front pages, editorially and visually conveyed the message that this is a day of mourning for the lives lost. We urge all media, especially the television channels to objectively report the developments and not slide into any provocative coverage

“We call upon all Indians irrespective of religion to emulate the fine example of communal amity displayed by ordinary Kashmiri Muslims.”

Signatories:

Javed Anand, Convenor, IMSD

Hasina Khan, Bebaak Collective

Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS)

Teesta Setalvad, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)

Zakia Soman, Co-Convenor, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA)

Zeenat Shaukatali, Director General, Wisdom Foundation

Related:

Indians & Kashmiris alike, Muslims strongly condemn Pahalgam terror attack

The post Indian Muslims, others, condemn the heinous massacre of tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to reports from PTI and IANS, the confrontation resulted in multiple injuries to civilians and police personnel alike, with several police vehicles set ablaze by protesters. The situation quickly escalated, prompting the deployment of a large police force and the declaration of a high alert in the region. Traffic along the Basanti Highway was brought to a halt for several hours due to road blockades and the sit-in protest by demonstrators.

Later that evening, West Bengal Police issued a statement assuring that the situation in Bhangar had been brought under control. They confirmed that criminal cases had been registered against individuals involved in arson and violence. The Kolkata Police also took to social media to caution citizens against believing or spreading unverified information, warning that legal action would be taken against anyone found circulating rumours or misinformation.

VIDEO | West Bengal: Tension in South 24 Parganas’ Bhangar as Indian Secular Front (ISF) workers clashed with city police. They also set a van ablaze. More details awaited.

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/bnF8OnGu37) pic.twitter.com/fk17Jufpl3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 14, 2025

The Flashpoint: Why did the clashes occur?

The tension began when ISF supporters attempted to travel from Bhangar and neighbouring areas like Minakhan and Sandeshkhali to attend a rally in central Kolkata’s Ramlila Maidan. The rally, which was to be led by ISF leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddique, aimed to protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. However, the rally lacked formal police permission.

Police intervened near Bhojerhat on the Basanti Highway to prevent the large crowd from proceeding, citing law and order concerns. Protesters, however, accused the police of unjustified repression and argued that their right to peaceful assembly was being violated. When the crowd attempted to breach police barricades, clashes broke out. The situation quickly deteriorated as some demonstrators resorted to stone-pelting and reportedly set fire to police vehicles. A number of officers sustained injuries in the melee.

Despite the chaos, Siddique eventually addressed the rally at Ramlila Maidan, delivering a fiery speech criticising both the BJP-led central government and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state. “This law is not just an attack on Muslims, it is an assault on the very spirit of the Constitution. It must be withdrawn,” he said. He accused the BJP of attempting to engineer communal polarisation and slammed the TMC for suppressing legitimate dissent. “If the Chief Minister claims this Act will not be implemented in Bengal, why are her police blocking our peaceful protest?” Siddique asked, as per PTI.

He also suggested that the unrest was being used to divert public attention from the Supreme Court’s recent cancellation of over 25,000 teaching jobs in the state, a scandal that has caused considerable political embarrassment for the TMC government.

The ISF, a relatively new political force in West Bengal led by the Siddique family of Furfura Sharif, has positioned itself as a defender of minority rights and has sought to channel growing discontent among Muslims in the state. The party’s increasing assertiveness has brought it into direct confrontation with both the ruling TMC and the BJP, which dominate Bengal’s political landscape.

Parallel violence to Murshidabad

The violence in Bhangar came on the heels of communal unrest in parts of Murshidabad district, including Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur. Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent on April 11, after a bout of previous incident of violence that took place on April 8, leading to the deaths of three people. Several others were injured, and property was damaged in what police sources described as targeted communal violence, with reports emerging of attacks against Hindu communities.

Over 200 arrests have been made in connection with the Murshidabad violence, a senior police official confirmed. Additional Director General (Law & Order) Javed Shamim stated that peace had been largely restored in affected pockets of Murshidabad and Malda districts. Shops and businesses have begun reopening, and senior officials remain deployed to monitor the situation. “Route marches are being carried out regularly, and the police presence will continue to ensure order,” he said, as per The Times of India.

In light of the unrest, internet services have been suspended in certain areas to prevent the spread of inflammatory rumours and misinformation. Authorities have also started the process of facilitating the safe return of people displaced by the violence to their homes. Certain claims have been doing rounds that 400 Hindu families have fled from West Bengal.

Detailed reports on the violence in Murshidabad may be read here and here.

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22 arrested, internet suspended as Murshidabad recovers from Waqf Act protest violence

The post Fresh Unrest in Bengal: Violent clashes erupt over Waqf (Amendment) Act in South 24 Parganas appeared first on SabrangIndia.