Shutdown against terror attack in Kashmir, first time in 35 years

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: Kashmir valley observed a shutdown against a terror attack for the first time in 35 years on Wednesday as organisations from all walks of life supported the bandh call to protest the killings in Pahalgam tourist resort, officials said.

Security has been beefed up across the valley, especially at vital tourist spots.
Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar, the officials said.
They said only shops dealing in essential commodities were open across the city.
Public transport was also sparse, but private vehicles were plying normally, they added. Private schools were also shut across the valley, but government schools were open, the officials said.
The effect of the shutdown was also witnessed in the other district headquarters of the valley, they said.
Peaceful protests were also held at several places in the valley, with the protestors denouncing the attack.They called for stopping the killing of innocent people.
Several political parties, socio-religious organisation, trade bodies, and civil society groups called for a shutdown in Kashmir to protest against the attack in Baisaran meadows of the Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) — an amalgam of several religious bodies — which is headed by Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — appealed to the people of J-K to protest the heinous crime by marking a shutdown on Wednesday.
“The Islamic fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir through Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) in support and solidarity with the bereaved families of those killed appeal to people of Jammu Kashmir to peacefully protest this heinous crime tomorrow by a shutdown,” Mirwaiz said.
Kashmir’s trade and tourism bodies, including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, had also called for a shutdown.
As a mark of respect and solidarity with the victims and their families, the Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) announced the closure of all private schools across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
The Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled on Wednesday.
Security has been beefed up across the Kashmir valley, the officials said.
They said security personnel were deployed in strength at vital installations, important tourist spots and the entry and exit points of the city as well as other districts.
Several prominent newspapers in Kashmir on Wednesday printed their front pages black to protest the brutal terrorist attack.
The striking act of protest by the newspapers, each bearing powerful headlines in white or red, was a powerful public display of solidarity and grief, symbolising the collective sorrow felt by the residents and the media over the inhuman act.
The change in format by leading English and Urdu dailies, including Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, Aftab and Taimeel Irshad, serves as a stark reminder of the violence that has plagued the region for decades.
“Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving”, screamed the headline of leading English daily Greater Kashmir in white on a black layout, followed by the subhead “26 killed in deadly terror attack in Pahalgam” in red.
The paper’s front-page editorial with the headline “The massacre in the meadow – Protect Kashmir’s soul” said the attack has cast a dark shadow over J-K, a region striving to reclaim its legacy as a “Paradise on Earth”.
“This heinous act is not merely an assault on innocent lives but a deliberate blow to Kashmir’s identity and values — its hospitality, its economy, and its fragile peace. Kashmir’s soul stands in unequivocal condemnation of this brutality and offers heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, who sought beauty but found tragedy,” the editorial said.
Highlighting the fact that terrorists could strike a high-traffic tourist spot, accessible only by foot or pony, signals a need for sharper intelligence and tighter coordination among agencies, the paper called for proactive measures — enhanced vigilance, community engagement, and uprooting terrorism — which are imperative to prevent such horrors from recurring.
“Kashmir’s people have endured violence for too long, yet their spirit remains unbroken. This attack must not sow division but unite us in defiance of terror. We urge all — government, security forces, civil society, and citizens — to forge a collective front.
“Only through unwavering resolve can we protect our land’s future, ensuring that Pahalgam’s meadows echo with laughter, not gunfire, and that Kashmir remains a beacon of peace and prosperity,” the editorial said.