A tragic terror incident in northern India resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, inadvertently filmed by a man who was blissfully unaware of the chaos below as he enjoyed a zip-line ride.
The attack occurred at the scenic Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Kashmir, last Tuesday (April 22), executed by armed militants.
Rishi Bhatt, engrossed in capturing his own excitement on his phone, was oblivious to the gunfire and the ensuing panic among people on the ground.
At least four militants targeted approximately three dozen people, leaving only one local among those killed.
The Resistance Front (TRF), officially known as Kashmir Resistance, has taken responsibility for this violent attack.
Bhatt has since recounted the traumatic experience he witnessed.
“I saw five to six people getting shot,” he told The New Indian Express. “I unlatched my belt and jumped down, took my wife and son and started running away. We saw people hiding at a spot which was like a pit, so you could not spot someone easily there. We too hid there.”
“I found out that men in two families ahead of us were asked their religion and shot in front of my wife and son. My wife and son were screaming,” he added.
He described how the gunfire continued for another ten minutes, paused, and then resumed.
“The firing started again and 4-5 people were shot. 15-16 tourists were shot in front of us,” he stated.
According to Bhatt, the army arrived at the scene approximately twenty minutes later.
Following the attack, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to TRF, condemning the attack during a rally in Bihar.
“We will pursue them to the ends of the earth,” he declared, adding: “Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done.”
TRF, which emerged in 2019, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US. The group is believed to have connections with the notorious Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which the United Nations (UN) lists as linked to Al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden.
The UN states: “[LeT] is a Pakistan-based organization which has engaged in terrorist activity and supported listed individuals and entities, including Al-Qaida and Usama bin Laden.”
Kashmir has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947, following Pakistan’s separation from India.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, although Pakistan has denied any involvement, as reported by Sky News.
According to the BBC, police sources indicate that around 1,500 suspects from across Kashmir have been detained for questioning.
President Donald Trump expressed his condemnation of the attack on Truth Social, writing: “Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism.”