Pahalgam Attack: 48 Kashmir Tourist Sites To Remain Shut Amid Security Concerns

In view of the rising security concerns following the devastating Pahalgam attack, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday has closed 48 out of 87 tourist destinations across Kashmir as a preventive measure, officials told PTI. It has been reported that gates have been closed at 48 of the 87 public parks and gardens in Kashmir.

The decision came a week after 26 persons, mostly tourists, were brutally killed at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam resort.

According to the officials associated with security review, more locations are likely to be added to the list in the coming days. Although the authorities have not issued a formal order to this effect, the entry to these places has been blocked.

So far, the list of the places include Doodhpathri, Kokernag, Duksum, Sinthan Top, Acchabal, Bangus valley, Margan Top and Tosamaidan.

On April 22, the nation was shaken by a group of suspected terrorists' brutal act of opening fire on tourists, including one local pony handler, in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley. The attack indeed has placed a question mark on the future of Kashmiri people whose livelihoods are largely dependent on tourism.

The incident has further triggered a heightened diplomatic debate between India and Pakistan regarding the latter's alleged role in cross-border terrorism targeting India.

For the past few days, Pakistani troops are adhering to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) through unprovoked firing in Poonch and Kupwara districts, Army officials said on Monday.

Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Monday night marked the fifth consecutive night that Pakistan resorted to small-arms fire along the LoC.

Overall security measures have been beefed up in the Union Territory in view of the prevailing atmosphere of fear and threat across sensitive tourist locations, including Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and the Dal Lake areas.

Moreover, armed security forces have launched a massive anti-terror operations across the state which include coordinated raids, detaining hundreds of suspects and terror sympathisers and destroying several homes of active terrorists.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Pahalgam terror attack, has also reportedly launched an on-site investigation and recreated the crime scene.