DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA ● REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 ATTACKATMEADOWNEARPAHALGAM, TRUMPDIALSMODIASWORLDJOINSINDIA Terrorists kill tourists in Kashmir security forces launch search operations in condemning attack; won’t spare those behind it: PM 26 killed; Modi cuts short Saudi trip, Shah at attack site today BASHAARAT MASOOD & MAHENDER SINGH MANRAL THE MEADOW SITE CHINA (Tibet) IN THE deadliest terror attack on civilians in the country since the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, at least 25 tourists and a Valley resident were shot dead Tuesday at a meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Sourcesindicatedthatthetoll could climb since several others had sustained serious injuries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had reached Jeddah earlier in the day on a two-day visittoSaudiArabia,cutshorthis trip and decided toreturn home. He is expected back early Wednesday. Modi promised that “those behind this heinous act will be broughttojustice…theywillnot be spared”. He was briefed on PAKISTAN SRINAGAR, NEW DELHI, APR 22 Saudi Crown Prince offers assistance over J&K terror attack as Modi visit boosts ties Pahalgam’s BaisaranValley Srinagar Ladakh J&K Jammu The site was packed with tourists when terrorists opened fire the incident by Union Home Minister Amit Shah who later reached Srinagar to review the situation. Shah will go to the incidentsiteWednesdaymorning. As world leaders joined India in condemning the attack, US President Donald Trump dialled CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 A tourist breaks down as she is leaves the site of the terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam district on Tuesday. ANI Terrorists were wearing camouflage outfits, ‘They asked us for our names, moved around carried M4 carbine, AK-47s: Initial probe 50-70 cartridges recovered from site opening fire... were of terror attack; NIA likely to step in there for 20 minutes’ MAHENDER SINGH MANRAL NEW DELHI, APRIL 22 Security personnel reach the attack site in Pahalham. PTI A PRELIMINARY investigation intothe deadlyattackontourists nearPahalgam hasrevealed that at least four terrorists, clad in camouflage outfits, came to the Baisaran meadow and opened fire with American-made M4 carbineassaultriflesandAK-47s. Some 50-70 used cartridges had been recovered from the incidentsiteuntilTuesdayevening. It is learnt that the Centre plans to hand over the investigationfromJ&KPolicetotheNational Investigation Agency (NIA). Asourcesaidtheinitialprobe after recording the statement of victims and eyewitnesses revealed that four terrorists, including two believed to be CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2000, ’02, J&K terror’s old ghost: attack during high-profile US visit 84 112 Our hearts with you: Trump; mourn horrific attack: Vance 137 terror attack that has killed more than two dozen civilians in Pahalgam in Kashmir Tuesday frames one of the most significant internal security challenges for New Delhi — one with external ramifications. Indeed, since August 2019, BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY NEW DELHI, APRIL 22 WITH US Vice-President J D Vance in India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an overseas trip to Saudi Arabia, the biggest terrorist attack targeting civilianssincethe26/11Mumbai E EXPLAINED 60 SHUBHAJIT ROY after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked, the record surge in tourists to the state ● was seen as a bellwetherfornormalcyin the Valley. Given how tourism fuelled local employment and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 cr & counting: Terror strikes heart of record tourist surge, local economy NAVEED IQBAL SRINAGAR, APRIL 22 CAN’T BELIEVE EYES AND EARS: DELHI HC PULLS UP RAMDEV’S PATANJALI OVER ADS PAGE 12 THE TERRORattackinPahalgam on Tuesday hits at the heart of the Valley’s tourism sector, which has shown a near-constant growth since 2018 and has been touted as the most significant indicator of “normalcy” in Jammu and Kashmir. TOURIST ARRIVALS 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 1.7 crore 1.6 crore 34.7 lakh 1.1 crore 1.9 crore 2.1 crore 2.3 crore Officialsandstakeholderssay terrorists chose the peak tourist season in the Valley, when the meadows and Mughal gardens attract thousands of visitors to witness the spring. It also took place at a destination that is on every tourist’s itinerary — Pahalgam in South Kashmir. Pahalgam is significant for several reasons — it serves as one of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, APRIL 22 PRIMEMINISTERNarendraModi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam during their meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday even as India and Saudi Arabia moved to enhance ties withworkinggroupsondefence andtourism,andpactsinkeysectors such as space and health. Both theleaders condemned DAYS AFTER PAK ARMY CHIEF’S SHRILL RHETORIC 23/04/2025 Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jeddah, Tuesday. ANI A tourist being brought to a medical facility in Pahalgam district after the attack on Tuesday. PTI BASHAARAT MASOOD SRINAGAR, APRIL 22 TUESDAY STARTED as a typical morning at Baisaran, a picturesque meadow ringed by dense forests, in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Between 1,000 and 1,500 tourists were in the area, slightly less than usual. As the day passed, more tourists poured in. And then, all of a sudden, so did the terrorists. Vinay Bai, a resident of Gujarat, was just entering the meadow when the gunshots firstrangoutaround2pm.“Iwas on a pony, about to enter Baisaran, when there were gun- shots. People started to run for theirlives,”anofficerquotedhim as saying. “As I tried to escape, a bullethit mein theelbow.Idon’t know where it came from.” Police officers who spoke to the survivors say they gave detailedaccountsof howtheattack unfolded. “Three to four men in ‘uniform’ descended from the dense forests.They asked for our names. We thought they were policemen,” an officer quoted a woman survivor as saying. “Suddenly, they opened fire on the men and left the women unharmed. They shot some of the men from point-blank range.” Those who tried to flee were CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ESS.COM WWW.INDIANEXPR TTAC J&K TERROR A THE INDIAN EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL K 23, 2025 M S IN PAHALGA STS TARGET TOURIST 26 KILLED AS TERRORI .. must be pun ‘Dastardly, inhuman. President, Vice LEADERS CONDEMN HORRIFIC President, PM, CMs, leaders across party lines condemn terror attack in one voice; global ished’ leaders pledge — is united against The whole countryof making hollow terrorism. Instead normal in situation being claims on the the government and take Jammu and Kashmir, accountability should now take so that such barbaric concrete steps future and innocent happen in the incidents do not their lives like this A lose Indians do not LEADEROF OPPOSITIONINLOKSABH — RAHULGANDHI, by the brutal region I am deeply anguished in the Pahalgam terrorist attack heartfelt condolences of Anantnag. My lost their of those who to the families for the swift recovery lives, and prayers act of violence is This of the injured. go unpunished and must not utterly reprehensible BANERJEE, CM,WESTBENGAL support GLOBAL CONDEMNATION POURSIN news Deeply disturbing The out of Kashmir. stands United States against strong with India for pray terrorism. We lost, the souls of those of and for the recovery the injured. Prime Minister (Narendra) incredible Modi, and the have our people of India, deepest full support and hearts sympathies. Our are with you all ACT in attack on tourists is The terrorist Jammu and Kashmir Pahalgam of dastardly painful. It is a shocking and be act which must and inhuman Attacking condemned unequivocally. tourists, in this case innocent citizens, My heartfelt and unpardonable. dear is utterly appalling families who have lost their to the of the condolences quick recovery prayers for the ones and my — PRESIDENT DROUPADIMURMU injured by the horrific Deeply anguished Such acts of in Pahalgam. terrorist attack and deserve violence are reprehensible My condemnation. our strongest the prayers are with thoughts and grief in this hour of affected families VICE PRESIDENT AR, — JAGDEEPDHANKH Their will not be spared! They (terrorists) Our never succeed. evil agenda will terrorism is unshakable resolve to fight even stronger and it will get PRIMEMINISTER — NARENDRAMODI, of are with the families My condolences in this lost theirlives the civilians who to grant peace to the God to attack. I pray to and speedy recovery departed souls LOK SABHA SPEAKER the injured OMBIRLA, terror attack on Anguished bythe My thoughts are tourists in Pahalgam. members of the with the family involved in this deceased. Those be spared, terror will not dastardly act of on the down heavily and we will come the harshest consequences perpetrators with AMITSHAH, UNIONHOMEMINISTER DONALDTRUMP US PRESIDENT our Usha and I extend the condolences to devastating victims of the terrorist attackin past the Pahalgam. Over few days,wehavebeen the overcome with country beauty of this Our and its people. prayers are thoughts and with them as theymourn this horrific attack JDVANCE US VICE PRESIDENT and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday. PTI ing, Daughter watch killed, wife says 65-yr-old man from Karnataka man was his dream Kochi shot dead visiting Kashmir while riding horse An injured receives treatment at a hospital in Jammu over Sincere condolences the tragic consequences attack in of the terrorist victims Pahalgam whose — citizens were civilians This of various countries. no brutal crime has justification whatsoever. its We expect that organisers and face a perpetrators will deserved punishment VLADIMIRPUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT the Deeplysaddenedby attackon heinous terror touristsin Pahalgam.Our e thoughtsarewithth families. from a victimsand their with while an official that my killed, stated son to where Israelstandsunited inst central agency and took my rehe was shot was injured and Indiainthefightaga husband was (after works as a Manjunath SA’AR, “We don’t who terror — GIDEON ceiving treatment. added. at),” said Pallavi, ER in her presBirur branch of ISRAELIFOREIGNMINIST cident happened know more,” Deepa spoke to manager at the Marketing Co-opence,” said Jayalakshmi. worked Pallavi also Malnad Areca by the had Sabha MP B Y Karnataka’s Ltd. PHILIP Deeply saddened Ramachandran Shivamogga Lok erative Society in SHAJU A REALTOR from that RAM, several years beaharrowing seeking help among those terrorist attack in the UAE for Shealsorecalled Raghavendra Shivamogga was attack near in India... body to THIRUVANANTHAPU to Kochi four occurred today fore moving back his wife. APRIL 22 bringing her husband’s exchange of wordswiththegunkilled in the terrorTuesday. with halgam. She hot herhuson GEORGIAMELONI years ago along manwhoallegedlys J&K’s Pahalgam Minister since ShivamoggafromPa had not killed in the 47, his wife Kerala Chief ITALIAN PM ONE OF the tourists Kashmir’s Manjunath Rao, band dead. “I toldhimthat me, said local authorities the governbody. husband, kill and their son attack in south PinarayiVijayansaid handed her the the you killed my on of Pallavi Rao, by the terror take steps for Tuesday was identhe same... He chedwhat is said Strongcondemnati ment would “Deeply saddened Rao, a Pahalgam on Abhijeya,18,hadreaSwitzerland’ too. My son Kochi resident safe return of Ramachandran’s kill you, tell thedastardly attackin tragic loss of Manjunath from tified as referred to as ‘mini firing took replied, ‘I won’t death of the the industrialist Jammu &Kashmir... family. “The Ramachandran. Modi’,” she said. newly-wed respected by tourists when is painful. had gone to erinnocent France standsinsolidarity The 65-year-old Ernakulam native Pallavi said a t place in the afternoon. arelvictims. Shivamogga,andoth terror athis wife Sheela, NORKA ROOTS (the nodal withIndiainthefigh lives in the cowardlyJammu & Kashmir with Inaphone calltoDeepa, couple were amongthe her two concerning —NITISHKUMAR, and ,buthiswife ogga,Pallavi against terrorism agency for matters es)has been daughter Arathi tack at Pahalgam, “Themanwaskilledsaid. ative,backinShivam in heartfelt condo- children. she thought it was THIERRYMATHOU Kashmir. My the terror attack was left alone,” said theyinitially was shot non-residentKeralit necessary FRANCE steps Pallavi said families, and Strongly condemn behind this heinous the armed forces. “Ramachandran AMBASSADOR OF asked to take all Amid the shock, he lences to their of an exercise of Those a horse. All in Kashmir,” ntsescorted us #Pahalgam... minutes later, he was riding for the swift recovery to help those to justice. Let However, 10 chief while body thatthreelocalreside from ‘mini prayers family are safe. back act must be brought such acts of Deeplyshocked& said. others in the found Manjunath’s the injured,” KarnatakaBJP three her and her son Pallavi will the body said on X. stand united against to Pahalgam. “I saddened bythe The Chief Ministersaid Later, Arathi identifiedhospital,” K in a pool of blood. relative that Switzerland’ man B Y Vijayendra judges, Anil said while a local violence... despicable Pahalgam , CM ,KERALA High Court Raghavendra of her father at and Pallavi told her call them my brothers...One TheEU ere safe,the aneighbour of — PINARAYIVIJAYAN eotherconP G Ajith Kumar asingleshot terrorist attack... carriedmysonandth thanking Pallaviandhersonw them back. saidJayalakshmi,Edappally area Narendran, herhusbanddiedof all formsof are also touring bring in the said and byaman assoon standsagainst G Gireesh, who in priority was to the cowardly soled me,” she tohisheadfired direc- the family riverAfreez. staying at ahotel I strongly condemn off a tourist bus terrorism working in that My heartfelt Kashmir,are of Kochi. themaswellastheird asaidthe “We are as they stepped in Pahalgam. set out for tourists, only terrorist attack meadowland. their lives HERVE DELPHIN The family had Srinagar. InShivamogga,Deep tion. Among the and entered the those who lost etourist Shivamogga. Manjunath’s of on Monday morning condolences to Theywill returnWednesday, EU AMBASSADOR three were from Shesaidthemeninth targets family had kept no Kashmir We share the grief legislators M Hyderabad. dark about the Apart from that, there were in this incident. primary he said. State from Kochi via mother in the K P A group were the and loved ones said. gatheringof rherhealth. their families by the militants. I offer my deepest Kannadigas,” he “Duringarecent Mukesh, T Siddique, are also AVIS, CM,MAHARASHTRA of the shooting ramaiah to the dream deathastheyfearedfojunathisin- other informed about K Ansalan condolences —DEVENDRAFADN Majeed and KarnatakaCMSidda locals, we were “It was my husband’s know “WetoldherthatManoff the TV,” terrorist g, whenthe Vijayan said. attack. I don’t victims of the on tourists safe in Srinagar, has started a and switched theirtrip.Thisevenin condemned the to go to Kashmir. terrorist attack directions, us this,” jured in the day the attack was The cowardly attack — ONOKEIICHI NORKA ROOTS “Following my news about and Kashmir is she said. “Earlier what fate brought my toll-free number of senior offiTV channels, some in Pahalgam, Jammu I pray to God for the had spoken to Kannada. JAPANESE AMBASSADOR help desk with two teams — one police per- splashed on and Pallavi told TV9 managed to had rode (Manjunath) him on his anof their highly condemnable. cers and another dispatched of the relatives She said the family to reach uncle wishing of those who lost told them 18004253939, been said. peace of the souls to Arathi, who sonnel — have niversary,” she and for the speedy horses from Pahalgam . Thein- 00918802012345. posted on speak sbandwent lives in this attack stands her fatherwasshotdead Therewas someconfusionin to J&K,”Siddaramaiah themeadows.“Myhu the entire country Pallavi informed at a store for our injured. Today, social media. the family as looking for food recovery of the attempt to destabilize ndhadbeen not eaten since terrorism. Any themthatherhusba son as he had united against willnot succeed people running morning. I saw Jammu and Kashmir —BHUPENDRAPATEL, CM,GUJARAT SERVICE EXPRESS NEWS 22 APRIL BENGALURU, —MAMATA in the terrorist The death of touristsJammu-Kashmir is attack in Pahalgam, incident is highly stands very tragic. The entire country condemnable...The terrorism united against CM,BIHAR RUINED: NEIGHBOUR FAMILY SUCH A GOOD FEELING SHAKEN... ting wedding in Valley on Raipur man celebra family killed Kanpur man was wedding in Feb anniversary with second trip after MANISH SAHU 22 APRIL LUCKNOW, (31), a SHUBHAM DWIVEDI was the and sister. Shubham Dwivedi. only son of Sanjay his cousin According to family members Saurabh, all 11 a day ago. had visited Pahalgam chose to his wife “Shubham and horseback oupthemountainon JAYPRAKASH S RAIPUR, APRIL 22 NAIDU (42), a resiDINESH MIRANIA in Pahalgam was dent of Raipur, tal during treatment. was outwho A close friend did residence, and side Mirania’s ,said:“Icannotwishtobenamed is dead… He had not believe he before his death. called me a day in another state His son studies to Raipur to enjoy and had come ON CIVILIANS IN MAJORTERROR ATTACKS SINCE 2000 JAMMUAND KASHMIR 19people, NOV 23, 2002: nnel,3 includingnineperso en, minority Militants target womenand2childr in Sikh community killed in an IEDblastin mmuvillage in Chattisinghpora kill 36. SouthKashmironJa Anantnag district, SrinagarNH. AUG 2000: Thirty-two MARCH 23, 2003: ast 24 two people,including lgrims, Terroristskilledatle dozenAmarnathpi Kashmiri Pandits,including attackat 2children, at killedinaterror 11 womenand camp. theNunwan base Nandimarg villagein Pulwamadistrict. JULY 2001: Amarnath , this 13, includyatrisagaintargeted camp JUNE 13, 2005: base timeat Sheshnag 13. ing 2school children,and ee CRPFofficerskilled inAnantnag,killing MARCH 21, 2000: FULL COVERAGE DASTARDLY, MUST NOT GO UNPUNISHED: CHORUS ACROSS INDIA CANCELLATION CALLS FLOOD TOUR OPERATORS PAGES 7, 8 the terror attack with Modi deciding to cut short his two-day visit. Indian Ambassador Suhel Ejaz Khan said the Crown Prince also offered Saudi assistance over the attack. The decision to set up the workinggroupswastakenasthe two leaders held a meeting of their Strategic Partnership Council. Four pacts were signed on space, health, anti-doping in sports and postal departments, officials said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Fadnavis govt climbs down, Hindi ‘optional’ language in Classes 1 to 5 PALLAVI SMART & ALOK DESHPANDE MUMBAI, APRIL 22 UNDER INTENSE pressure from all sides on the issue, the Maharashtra government Tuesday rolled back its decision to make Hindi mandatory as the third language in Classes 1 to 5 across Marathi- and Englishmedium schools of the Maharashtra State Board. "Thewordmandatorywillbe removed… The three-language formula remains, but schools must accommodate other language choices (besides Hindi) if a significant number of students in a class request it,” Maharashtra School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse announced, after a Cabinet meeting. Since the state government issued an order on April 16 saying Hindi would be mandatory as the third language from Classes 1 to 5, it has been facing pushback from political circles, as well as social and cultural. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis What made thegoing tougher for the BJP-led government was that its move coincidedwithprotestsbyTamil Nadu to a similar order regarding Hindi. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has been defending the decision, on Tuesday briefed the Cabinet meeting regarding the three-language formula as per the new National Education Policy (NEP). A senior minister who attended the meeting said the CM then told them that "Hindi will not be mandatory but an optional subject”. On Monday, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, who has been leading the opposition to the NEP's three-language formula, posted on X:“Facing amassive backlash CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Dead: Husband, father, brother; Kochi to Kanpur, Kolkata to Raipur PAGE 1 ANCHOR EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE BENGALURU, BHUBANESWAR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, LUCKNOW, RAIPUR, APRIL 22 A REALTOR from Karnataka, an accountant from Odisha, a Kanpur-based businessman, a Gulf-returnee from Kerala — among the 26 killed in the terror attack on tourists in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam Tuesday were men from all over India, many of whom were holidaying withtheirfamiliesatthepopular tourist destination. Residents of Shivamogga in Karnataka, Manjunath Rao (47), wife Pallavi Rao, and their son Abhijeya (18) had reached an area popularly called ‘Mini Switzerland’ by tourists when the firing occurred in the afternoon. In a call to a relative in Shivamogga,Pallavisaidtheyinitially thought it was an exercise of thearmedforces.Tenminutes later, Pallavi found Manjunath’s body lying in a pool of blood. She told her relative that her husbanddiedofasingleshotfired at his head by a man in regular clothes as soon as they stepped off a tourist bus and entered the meadow.Shesaidthemeninthe tourist group were the primary targets of the shooting. She recalled an exchange of words with the militant who is believed to have shot her husband. “I told him that since you killed my husband, kill me, too. My son said the same... He replied, ‘I won’t kill you, tell Modi’,” she told the media. Another of the victims was One of the survivors at an hospital in Anantnag. Reuters Prashant Satpathy, 43, from BalasoreinOdisha,whowasalso on vacation with wife and ninyear-old son. He worked as an accountant in Bhubaneswar. His wife Priyadarshini told The Indian Express that he was shotintheheadwhentheywere alighting from a ropeway. “We couldn’t understand what happened as my husband was suddenly hit by a bullet. There was chaos all over,” she said. A 65-year-old from Kochi in Kerala, who was also with his family, was another victim. Ramachandran was on vacation with his wife Sheela, daughter Arathi, and her two children. “Ramachandran was shot while riding a horse. Later, Arathi identified the body of her father at a local hospital,” said Jayalakshmi, the family’s neighbour in the Edappally area of Kochi. Kanpur-based businessman ShubhamDwivedi(31),partofan 11-memberfamilygroupvisiting Kashmir,wasalsokilled.Hemarried Aishanya Dwivedi on February 12. “This was their second trip after the wedding, and this time, they chose to travel with their families,” said Shubham’s cousin, Saurabh Dwivedi. Shubham managed his family’s cement business. “Shubham and his wife chose to goupthemountainonhorseback when the terrorists opened fire. Shubhamwaskilledonthespot.” Dinesh Mirania (42) from RaipurinChhattisgarh,whowas visiting Kashmir with his wife Nehaandchildrenfortheirwedding anniversary, was also shot. “He had called me a day before. HesaidtheyvisitedVaishnoDevi. Today was his wedding anniversary.Hissonhadjoinedthefamily for the holiday,” a friend said.