Srinagar, April 22: At least 26 civilians, including several tourists, were reportedly killed in a terror attack in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday, April 22. The remote meadow, accessible only on foot or by pony, was targeted while a group of tourists was visiting earlier in the day.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the attack "much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years," adding that the final death toll is still being ascertained. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, instructing him to take suitable measures. Shah, along with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has left for Srinagar to assess the situation and will lead an urgent security review meeting with all intelligence and law enforcement agencies. ‘Terrorist Shot Him After Asking if He’s Muslim’, Says Eyewitness After Terrorists Targetted Hindu Tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam (Watch Video).

The Resistance Front: All About the Group Behind the Pahalgam Terror Attack

The banned terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Formed in October 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, TRF is widely recognised as a proxy of the Pakistan-based jihadist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It also draws cadres from Hizbul Mujahideen and other proscribed outfits.

Though TRF attempts to mask its radical agenda with "secular" rhetoric, the group has been responsible for a series of targeted killings, including attacks on Kashmiri Hindus, migrant workers, government employees, and tourists. TRF has also executed strikes against Indian security forces and local political leaders. ‘We Were Eating Bhelpuri When 1 Person Shot My Husband’: Woman Tourist Recounts Horrific Ordeal of Pahalgam Terror Attack (Watch Video).

Maintaining a strong propaganda network online, many of TRF’s digital operations have been traced back to Pakistan. In January 2023, the Indian government designated TRF as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and officially named its leader, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, as a wanted militant. Other key operatives include Sajid Jatt and Salim Rehmani, all linked to LeT.

Among TRF's prior attacks is the mass shooting at a construction site in Ganderbal, which claimed seven lives, including those of a Kashmiri doctor and several labourers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2025 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).