OTV in Pahalgam: Gujjar and Bakarwal community members hold protest against terrorists

After the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, the members of Gujjar and Bakarwal communities on Sunday held a protest rally against such a barbaric act by the terrorists. OTV team, which is also on ground zero, interacted with the locals who have voiced their concern against such a cowardly act by the extremists.

The locals hit the streets and took out a protest march against the terrorists and terrorism, as their lives and livelihoods have been hit.

“Those behind the gruesome incident should be punished. The tourists were our guests and we condemn their brutal killing,” said a protester urging the government to take stern action against the perpetrators of such a heinous crime.

Following the brutal killing of tourists, our business and livelihoods have been affected. Be it hoteliers or others, everybody has been affected in the region.

“There should be stern action against the terrorists. I am an Indian, and I urge all to come here. It is a conspiracy of our enemies and propaganda to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims. I urge all Indians to support us and give a strong reply to the terrorists.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat programme issued a stern warning to the terrorists responsible for the attack on innocent tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, assuring that the perpetrators and conspirators of this heinous act will face the harshest response.  He also promised the families of the victims that justice would be served.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the Pahalgam terror attack case, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali national and a tourist from Odisha.

The investigation was being done by the J&K Police so far, and the NIA has taken over the case on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.