Srinagar, April 23 (NationPress) A deep sense of sorrow enveloped the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as there was widespread outrage and a total protest shutdown in response to the horrific murder of 16 individuals in a terror incident that occurred on Tuesday. The deceased included 2 locals and 2 foreign tourists, who tragically became victims of the terrorists' violent rampage.

On Wednesday, all forms of trade, travel, industry, transportation, and educational institutions were completely closed in the Valley, following the condemnation of the senseless killings by political, religious, social, and professional groups. These organizations expressed their grief over the loss of innocent lives in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

Disturbing accounts are now surfacing regarding the heinous actions of the assailants.

Eyewitnesses recounted that the terrorists segregated the men from the women and children.

The men were instructed to recite the ‘Kalima’ (a Muslim prayer). Those who were identified as non-Muslims were shot at point-blank range, while two locals, who reportedly protested against the inhumane actions of the assailants, were also killed.

The victims were primarily tourists from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

It was reported that the two locals had entered a heated discussion with the attackers regarding their barbaric actions.

Among the deceased was a Navy officer, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal from Haryana, who had just married on April 16. An Intelligence Bureau officer, Manish Ranjan from Bihar, was also among those killed.

Survivors were so traumatized that when security forces arrived at the scene, located 6 kilometers from Pahalgam, they began to weep, as the terrorists had been dressed in Indian Army uniforms.

Only after security personnel assured them of their identity as Indian forces did the survivors start to calm down.

This tragedy has deeply unsettled the local community, leading to protests, expressions of condemnation, candlelight vigils, and a widespread atmosphere of mourning as the news of this cowardly massacre spread throughout the Valley.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, convened a high-level security review meeting at the Raj Bhawan on Tuesday night.

HM Shah is set to visit the site of the terror attack this morning.

A significant anti-terror operation has been initiated in Pahalgam to locate the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi after abruptly ending his trip to Saudi Arabia.

In light of Tuesday's attack, security measures across Jammu and Kashmir have been intensified, marking this as the most severe terrorist attack since the Pulwama incident of 2019.

This assault also represents the most devastating attack on tourists since the onset of separatist violence in the 1990s.