For the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the Kashmir Valley witnessed a complete shutdown on Wednesday. The widespread hartal saw markets shuttered, educational institutions closed, and traffic coming to a standstill in protest against the heinous terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam that claimed at least 26 lives on Tuesday afternoon.
The usually bustling hill town of Pahalgam fell eerily silent, with shops closed and streets deserted. Srinagar, too, especially the old city, bore a similar deserted appearance. “All markets were closed in the city’s business hub of Lal Chowk. This is the first time after years that such a hartal is being observed in Kashmir, particularly after the Narendra Modi-led Centre’s crackdown on Kashmiri separatists,” said Abdul Hameed, a local resident and street food vendor.
The attack, which took place in the picturesque Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, sent shockwaves through the Valley, particularly affecting its tourism-dependent economy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Srinagar on Tuesday night, and alongside Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, paid homage to the victims at the police control room in the city.
In a strong condemnation of the attack, the chief minister expressed deep sorrow and announced financial aid: ₹10 lakh for the families of those killed, ₹2 lakh for the seriously injured, and ₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries. “This barbaric and senseless act of brutality against innocent civilians has no place in our society. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms. We mourn the precious lives lost,” he said.
