A terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, April 22, has sent shockwaves across the nation. The attack has claimed the lives of 26 people, including six from Maharashtra. Two of the deceased are reported to be from Pune.
Crime News: Six Maharashtra tourists lost their lives in a brutal terrorist attack at the tourist destination of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack occurred on the evening of April 22nd while hundreds of tourists were enjoying their vacations in the valley's scenic beauty. A total of 26 people died in this horrific attack, six of whom were citizens of Maharashtra. This attack serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism to the nation's unity and peace.
Maharashtra Families Who Lost Loved Ones
Among the six deceased, two were residents of Pune, three from Dombivali, and one from Panvel. The Pune residents were Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Gambote; from Dombivali, there were Sanjay Lele, Atul Mone, and Hemant Joshi; and the name of the Panvel resident has not yet been publicly released. All were in Kashmir with their families on a holiday. Reports suggest they were traveling towards a major tourist spot in Pahalgam at the time of the attack.
The news of the deaths of Atul Mone from Thakurwadi, Hemant Joshi from Bhagshala Maidan, and Sanjay Lele from Subhash Road areas of Dombivali has cast a pall of gloom over their localities. A sense of quietude has descended upon the neighborhoods, with people visiting the grieving families.
Injured Receiving Treatment, Two in Critical Condition
Several others were injured in the attack, including two more tourists from Maharashtra, Balachandru and Shobhit Patel. Both are from Mumbai and are undergoing treatment at a major hospital in Srinagar. Doctors report that their condition remains critical, but efforts are underway to save their lives. A particularly shocking detail is that the terrorists were reportedly wearing police uniforms.
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, shared that a girl named Pragati Jagtap informed him that her father and uncle were shot by the terrorists after being asked only their religion and name. This suggests that the attack was not merely a terrorist incident, but a premeditated act of communal violence.
Political Reactions: Leaders Condemn Pakistan
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the attack as an "attack on the journey of progress," stating, “This is a conspiracy to stop Jammu and Kashmir from progressing. But India will neither stop nor bow down.” Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde issued a b message to Pakistan, saying, "The game Pakistan started, the Indian Army will take it to its conclusion, and the terrorists will be given a befitting reply.”
Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting. A special team from the Ministry of Home Affairs has been dispatched to Kashmir, and investigative agencies have been instructed to uncover every detail of this attack.
Security has been heightened at major tourist destinations in the valley following the attack, with a doubling of the deployment of army and paramilitary forces. However, the attack has instilled considerable fear among tourists, with many leaving Kashmir prematurely.
