Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Apr 22: Security has been heightened across Jammu and Kashmir, while Delhi has been placed on high alert following a deadly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow that left dozens of people dead on Tuesday.
The attack occurred around 2:30 Pm when a group of terrorists, wearing combat uniforms, opened fire on tourists in the upper reaches of Baisaran, a popular trekking and picnic spot in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Most of the slain are said to be non-locals, who had come to the Valley as part of a larger travel group.
An official said that the security forces have launched a large-scale search and cordon operation in the area to trace the attackers.
“Checkpoints have been increased on highways and entry routes across the Valley, and surveillance has been intensified in major urban centres as well as in rural belts close to forests and highlands,” he added.
More senior police and paramilitary officials have been sent to Pahalgam to oversee security arrangements, the official added.
A senior government officer from Delhi said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to take over the case, with a team scheduled to arrive in the region on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the security has been intensified across Udhampur district. At Jakhani Chowk, one of the key entry points, security forces have set up additional checkpoints and are conducting strict checking of vehicles.
The deployment of personnel has been increased in the area to ensure enhanced vigilance and prevent any untoward incident. The official said the measures are part of a broader security review being implemented across Jammu and Kashmir.
Another senior security official said that security measures have been increased across the Kashmir Valley, from the northern to the southern regions, with heightened vigilance, including drone surveillance and additional deployment of forces.
Meanwhile, government sources said a high alert has been issued in Delhi and other major cities across the country. Security agencies have been instructed to stay vigilant, increase patrolling, and monitor crowded public places, transport hubs, and tourist spots as a precautionary measure following the Pahalgam attack, they said.
