Pahalgam Terror Attack Sparks Widespread Shutdown in Jammu Region Amid Demands for Strong Retaliation
Jammu, April 23: A wave of anger and grief swept across the Jammu region on Wednesday as several towns and cities observed a complete shutdown to denounce the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, most of them tourists. The shutdown, which paralyzed normal life, was marked by protests, slogans, and widespread condemnation of the attack that many viewed as a direct assault on the peaceful fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides the winter capital Jammu city, the shutdown call saw widespread response in districts including Reasi, Udhampur, Katra, Kathua, and Samba. Streets wore a deserted look as shops, markets, fuel stations, and other business establishments downed shutters. Public transport remained largely off the roads, while educational institutions remained closed or witnessed thin attendance. The Jammu Bar Association also joined the protest, suspending work in solidarity with the victims.
In Jammu city, several civil society groups, trade unions, and political parties staged demonstrations, with protesters raising slogans against Pakistan and demanding decisive military action in retaliation. Black flags, placards, and effigies marked the protests that erupted in several localities. Senior BJP leaders Yudhvir Sethi and Rajesh Gupta, while addressing the media, called for a strong and immediate response to Pakistan’s support for terrorism. “We want surgical strikes to be carried out again to dismantle terror infrastructure across the border. Our security forces must avenge these innocent killings,” said Sethi. Rajesh Gupta echoed the sentiment, urging the government to eliminate not just terrorists but also their supporters operating within the region.
Reasi town witnessed massive protests, where hundreds of residents took out marches, burned tyres, and blocked roads as a mark of resistance against terrorism. Despite the charged atmosphere, officials confirmed that the day remained peaceful without any untoward incident, crediting effective coordination between administration and community leaders.
The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Transporters Association, the Congress party, and several other organizations had jointly called for the shutdown. Their demand was clear—zero tolerance towards terrorism and a united stand against forces aiming to disrupt communal harmony and tourism in the Union Territory.
Security was heightened across the Jammu region with additional deployment of police and paramilitary personnel at sensitive locations. Checkpoints were installed across key entry points to monitor suspicious movement and ensure law and order.
The horrifying attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadows has sent shockwaves throughout the country. From political parties to human rights groups, there has been unanimous condemnation of the massacre. Many termed the attack as not only an act of terrorism but also a betrayal of Kashmir’s age-old ethos of hospitality and its composite cultural identity known as Kashmiriyat. The growing chorus from Jammu reflects a demand for swift justice and a reaffirmation of the people’s resolve to defeat terrorism in all its forms.
