Pahalgam terror attack anniversary: Security beefed up across J&K

Jammu, Apr 20: Ahead of the first anniversary of the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people, mostly tourists dead, authorities have beefed security across Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior officers are holding preparatory meetings to finalise a comprehensive security plan, with a focus on religious shrines, tourist hubs and vital installations across the Union Territory.
The attack, which took place at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, had left 25 tourists and a local pony handler dead, triggering a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.
Authorities had subsequently shut nearly 50 tourist destinations as a precautionary measure, reopening several of them in phases following security audits.
Officials said a QR code-based identification system has now been introduced for tourism service providers in Pahalgam to enhance visitor safety and ensure better monitoring.
Security agencies have been placed on high alert following inputs about suspected terrorist movement in districts along the International Border, including Kathua and Samba. Vigil has also been stepped up at major religious sites, including the Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta hills.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Samba, Anuj Kumar, reviewed security arrangements in border areas during a visit to the Ramgarh sector.
He inspected checkpoints and border police posts, including Koulpur and Kamore, and directed personnel to maintain heightened vigilance. He also visited Border Security Force outposts along the International Border and stressed coordination among agencies.
Officials said security forces have intensified anti-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir over the past year. Around 46 terrorists have been killed since the Pahalgam attack, including those linked to the incident.
In the Jammu region, operations in Kishtwar, Udhampur and Kathua districts have yielded significant results despite difficult terrain and weather conditions.
In a major operation on February 22, security forces eliminated a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, including commander Saifullah, in the Chatroo forests of Kishtwar district.
Earlier, on February 4, forces killed two terrorists in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district after targeting a cave hideout. Another commander, Usman alias Abu Maviya, was killed in Kathua’s Billawar area on January 23.
According to the Army’s White Knight Corps, seven terrorists involved in attacks on civilians and security personnel have been neutralised in Kishtwar district in 2025 and 2026.
Officials said sustained operations, including winter deployments in higher reaches, have restricted terrorists movement.
However, concerns remain over infiltration attempts along the International Border, with forces maintaining surveillance and conducting search operations based on inputs. (KNO)