Srinagar

People across Jammu and Kashmir reacted in shock and anger; leaders issued strong statements while activists took out candlelight vigils in response to carnage of tourists in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, on April 22.

Imams of many mosques across J&K condemned the attack from public address systems. The following announcement from a mosque in Bhalesa, Jammu was posted on X:

सूत्रों के हवाले से ख़बर है की कश्मीर में टूरिस्टों पर आतंकी हमले की निंदा मस्ज़िदों से एलान कर के की गई, यह हमला इन्सानियत पर हमला है। दोषियों को कड़ी सजा़ मिलनी चाहिएl pic.twitter.com/CGHCtg7tRe

— Sahal Qureshi (Hakim) (@IMSahalQureshi) April 22, 2025

Both Kashmir and Jammu divisions of the UT are observing a shut down today - the former for targeting of Hindus by Pakistani terrorists and the latter against the terror attack. The call for bandh was given by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and several political parties have extended their support to it to show the public anger against terrorism and solidarity with the victims' families.

Candle March in Handwara by locals, Condemns #Pahalgam Terror Attack.@trk_media pic.twitter.com/N0Pvdq2AOv

— Sajid Yousuf Shah (@TheSkandar) April 22, 2025

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has appealed to the people to make the Bandh a "complete success" and join in condemning the Pahalgam terror attack.

In a social media post on X, JKNC wrote, "On the instruction of the Party President, JKNC joins the collective call for a bandh in strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack. We appeal to the people of J&K to ensure the hartal called by religious and social leaders is a complete success."

Locals in Baramulla, Srinagar, Poonch, Doda and Kupwara held a candlelight march while Bajrang Dal workers in Jammu held a protest against the terror attack.

Locals in the Khod village of Akhoor area of the territory also held candle march protest against the Pahalgam terror attack.:

Candlelight protest held in #Baramulla, to mourn and condemn #Pahalgam terror attack.

VC:- @GMKashmir pic.twitter.com/9eXVQcS8Yy

— Sajid Yousuf Shah (@TheSkandar) April 22, 2025

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has expressed solidarity with the victims' families and supported the shutdown, calling it an "attack on all of us."

"The Chamber and Bar Association Jammu has called for a complete shutdown tomorrow in protest against the horrific militant attack on tourists. I appeal all Kashmiris to unite in solidarity to support this bandh as a mark of respect for the innocent lives lost in the brutal assault in Pahalgam. This isn't just an attack on a select few--it is an attack on all of us. We stand together in grief and outrage & strongly support this shutdown to condemn the massacre of innocents," Mufti posted on X.

The Chamber & Bar Association Jammu has called for a complete shutdown tomorrow in protest against the horrific militant attack on tourists. I appeal all Kashmiris to unite in solidarity to support this bandh as a mark of respect for the innocent lives lost in the brutal assault…

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 22, 2025

Jammu-Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has termed the attack an "assault on the very soul of Jammu and Kashmir" and has extended its support to the Bandh.

"JKSA fully supports the bandh called by the Chamber & Bar Association Jammu tomorrow, in response to the Terrorist Attack on tourists in Pahalgam. This tragic assault is not just an attack on a few individuals; it is an assault on the very soul of Jammu & Kashmir," JKSA posted on X.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to support the shutdown and peacefully protest against the "heinous crime."

Taking to social media post on X, Farooq wrote, "Whoever kills an innocent soul...it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. Another day of carnage in the blood-soaked history of Kashmir, when visiting tourists are mercilessly killed in a most gruesome manner. Hapless people of Kashmir know the pain and grief of such tragedies for those who have lost their loved ones today. Such gruesomeness is abhorred in Islam, which is essentially a religion of peace and goodwill, and against all human ethics. The Islamic fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir, through Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) in support and solidarity with the bereaved families of those killed, appeals to people of Jammu and Kashmir to peacefully protest this heinous crime tomorrow by a shutdown."

Whoever kills an innocent soul…it is as if he had slain mankind entirely”
﴿مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ…فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا﴾ (Al Quran)
Another day of carnage in the blood soaked history of Kashmir when visiting tourists in a most gruesome manner…

— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) April 22, 2025

Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Azad Party leader Abdul Majid Wani urged the central and state government to take action against the perpetrators of the attack and extend all possible help to the bereaved families.

"... No religion says to kill anyone. One who kills anyone does not belong to any religion. The central government and state government should take action against those responsible for such attacks... The government should extend all possible help to those families who have lost their loved ones..." Wani said.

The incident, which targeted tourists in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district, sparked widespread outrage across the country. Several political leaders condemned the attack.

Residents of Jammu and Kashmir turned up for a candlelight march at several places in the state against the Pahalgam terror attack that took place on Tuesday.

Union Home Minister Amiit Shah, who rushed to the Valley chaired a high-level security meeting with all the agencies following the Pahalgam terror attack. He said earlier that those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared.

The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a search operation in the general area of Baisran, Pahalgam, Anantnag, to nab the perpetrators of the attack.