Gujarat CM Patel pays tribute to Pahalgam victims, reiterates zero tolerance

Gandhinagar, April 22 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday marked one year since the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, paying tribute to those killed in the incident and reiterating India’s stated policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms.

In a post on X, Patel said: “One year has been completed today since that brutal terrorist incident in Pahalgam, and the memory of that cowardly attack continues to cause deep pain and anguish. Heartfelt tributes to the innocent citizens who lost their lives in that attack. The nation stands firmly with their families and loved ones with deep condolences and solidarity.”

The attack had taken place on April 22 last year in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, where a group of heavily armed militants opened indiscriminate fire on a group of tourists in a meadow area that is accessible only by foot or on horseback.

The assailants, who were equipped with automatic weapons and were dressed in military-style clothing, had specifically targeted civilians, killing at least 26 people, most of them tourists, and injuring several others in the brutal assault.

Subsequent investigations and intelligence-based assessments had indicated that the attack was carried out by militants linked to Pakistan-based groups, and the incident drew widespread condemnation both within the country as well as from the international community.

The incident had also prompted a large-scale and multi-layered security response, including intensified counter-terror operations, combing exercises, and heightened deployment of security forces across the south Kashmir region.

CM Patel said that India remains firm and unwavering in its approach to combating terrorism and ensuring national security.

“India will never accept terrorism in any form. With a policy of ‘zero tolerance’, we are firmly committed to the complete eradication of terror and terrorists. All 140 crore Indians stand united with full strength and collective resolve in this fight against terrorism,” he said.

Following the attack, Indian armed forces had launched a series of retaliatory and counter-terror measures, including operations such as Operation Sindoor, which were aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure, safe havens, and support networks operating in the region.

Security agencies had identified those involved in the Pahalgam killings, and a sustained and coordinated manhunt operation was carried out across multiple locations in the region over an extended period of time.

The three attackers linked to the Baisaran massacre were subsequently neutralised by security forces in separate operations, following sustained intelligence-led efforts to track, locate, and eliminate them.

The anniversary of the attack has been marked by tributes from political leaders across the country, alongside a renewed emphasis on vigilance, preparedness, and counter-terror measures in Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces continue to remain on heightened alert to prevent any such incidents.

–IANS

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