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A peaceful afternoon at Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam—a serene alpine pasture in Jammu and Kashmir—was shattered by violence on April 22.
Armed militants, believed to be affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), launched a brutal ambush on a group of tourists. At least 26 people were killed—most of them Hindu pilgrims and travelers—while around 20 others sustained injuries in the horrifying attack.
Witnesses described how the gunmen indiscriminately fired at unarmed men, women, and children for 15 to 20 minutes before vanishing into the dense pine forests using hidden trails, escaping before security forces could arrive at the remote, roadless location.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly denounced the massacre, sharing a statement on his Truth Social platform:
“Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India...”
Baisaran, often referred to as “Mini-Switzerland” for its breathtaking views and natural beauty, typically draws crowds of tourists in spring. But at approximately 2:30 p.m. IST, gunfire broke the peace as attackers emerged from the surrounding forest and opened fire on the unsuspecting visitors.
“We thought it was firecrackers at first, then chaos broke out,” a local pony guide told reporters. Families tried to shield themselves behind rocks or lay flat on the ground as the shooting intensified. Some tried to escape but were struck while running. Eyewitnesses said the assailants chanted Islamic slogans and deliberately targeted individuals who appeared to be Hindu.
Notably, there was no security presence at the meadow—unlike the more protected towns nearby—leaving the tourists completely vulnerable.
Sources familiar with Indian intelligence claim that a threat was anticipated, but not one of this magnitude, nor one targeting civilians.
“Tell Modi”: Survivors Speak Out
Heart-wrenching testimonies have since surfaced, revealing the intent behind the carnage.
Pallavi Rao, a mother from Karnataka, watched in horror as her husband, Manjunath Rao, was shot and killed in front of their son.
“I begged them to spare us. One of them said, ‘We won’t kill you—go and tell Modi about this,’” she recounted tearfully to reporters, adding that she was deliberately spared to carry the message forward.
The attack, it appears, was not only an act of terror but a calculated attempt to send a political message to Prime Minister Modi and intimidate Hindu visitors to the region.
Despite the violence, many acts of bravery emerged. Local Muslim villagers reportedly helped shield and guide tourists to safety, even carrying the wounded on makeshift stretchers due to the inaccessibility of ambulances.
“Some Kashmiri locals risked their own lives to protect us,” a tourist from Mumbai said. Footage from the site shows villagers providing first aid and assisting the injured down the mountain.
In a heartfelt response, candlelight vigils were held in Pahalgam and Srinagar by local communities. Placards read: “Tourists are our guests – not targets,” underscoring the rejection of violence by Kashmiris themselves.
