In response to the recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir valley observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday. The move was a collective effort by political parties, traders’ unions, and civil society to condemn the heinous act and express solidarity with the victims and their families.
The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Association (KTMA), one of the region’s most prominent business bodies, led the call for the shutdown. Bashir Ahmad Kongposh, General Secretary of KTMA, said the decision was taken after an emergency meeting held on Tuesday evening. “This is a heart-wrenching incident. The shutdown is our strongest possible condemnation. Islam doesn’t allow such acts where innocent lives are taken—it’s the death of humanity. We are truly against this, and we don’t want such acts to plague our region,” Kongposh stated in a statement to ANI.
Protests and shutdowns were also observed in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including in Poonch, where the local business community voiced its outrage over the attack. Demonstrators demanded justice and reiterated their support for peace and stability in the region.
Tourists, too, expressed their shock over the incident and observed the unusual silence that descended on the valley.
Residents also voiced their concerns about the implications of the attack. Ashiq Hussain, a Srinagar local, described the attack as a “murder of humanity” and lamented the damage such incidents cause to Kashmir’s reputation. “Tourism was at its peak. Now this will affect everything. Our name is being tarnished globally because of the actions of a few. This should never happen again,” he said.
Political parties across the region rallied in support of the shutdown. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) urged citizens to make the bandh a “complete success.” In a message on social media, the party stated, “On the instruction of the Party President, JKNC joins the collective call for a bandh in strong condemnation of the attack. We appeal to the people of J&K to ensure the hartal called by religious and social leaders is a complete success.”
Mehbooba Mufti, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also extended her party’s support. She described the attack as an “assault on all of us” and emphasized unity in the face of terror.
The Jammu-Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) termed the incident an “attack on the soul of Jammu and Kashmir” and echoed calls for mass participation in the shutdown. Similarly, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq appealed to the public to observe the shutdown as a peaceful protest against the “heinous crime.”
Meanwhile, security forces have intensified their efforts to track down those responsible. A joint search operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police has been launched in the Baisran area of Pahalgam, Anantnag district. Officials confirmed that the search is ongoing and that all resources are being deployed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The coordinated shutdown across the Kashmir valley is being seen as a powerful message of unity and resilience in the face of violence, as Kashmiris mourn the loss of innocent lives and reaffirm their collective stand against terrorism.
(With ANI inputs)
