Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Calls All-Party Meeting Following Pahalgam Terror Incident

Synopsis

On April 23, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for an all-party meeting after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians lost their lives. The meeting aims to unify political factions in condemning the attack and strategizing for future peace and justice.

Key Takeaways

Omar Abdullah convenes an all-party meeting in response to the Pahalgam attack.
The attack resulted in the death of 26 civilians, including tourists.
Compensation announced for victims' families and injured individuals.
Security forces initiated a major operation to capture the terrorists.
Prime Minister and Home Minister engaged in addressing the tragedy.

Srinagar, April 23 (NationPress) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has summoned an all-party assembly on Thursday in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians at the Baisaran meadow.

The Chief Minister has reached out to all political factions, members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, and the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly to participate in the meeting.

The gathering is scheduled to take place at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar at 3 p.m.

"...The lives lost and the pain inflicted on innocent individuals have profoundly impacted us all. This is not merely a tragedy for a region or a political party - it is a wound on the very essence of Jammu & Kashmir," the Chief Minister stated in the invitation letter.

"In this somber moment, I believe it is our shared responsibility - as representatives of the people and as guardians of democratic principles - to unite regardless of our political differences and respond together. Hence, I am organizing an all-party meeting to evaluate the situation, collectively denounce this act of terrorism, and contemplate the way forward in preserving peace, justice, and resilience...," he added.

The Union Territory government has declared ex gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased civilians, Rs 2 lakh for the injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those who sustained minor injuries during the attack.

The security forces have initiated an extensive technology-aided anti-terror operation to locate and apprehend the terrorists accountable for the Baisaran meadow tragedy.

Drones, helicopters, sniffer dogs, and other resources are being deployed to ensure the anti-terror operation reaches a conclusive outcome.

While 25 tourists lost their lives in the attack, a local ponywallah named Asif was also murdered by the terrorists.

Witnesses reported that Asif bravely confronted the terrorists to protect the tourists, even attempting to seize a weapon from one of them, but was tragically shot dead during the altercation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who truncated his visit to Saudi Arabia, presided over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi, where the Pahalgam attack was deliberated, along with the necessary responses to prevent future occurrences of such violence.

Before returning to New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the victims' families, assuring them that justice would be served for their loved ones.

Amit Shah also delivered a strong message to the terrorists and their supporters by visiting Baisaran meadow to pay respects to the deceased civilians and to gain firsthand insight into the ongoing anti-terror operation.