New Delhi, April 27: Supreme Court Judge Justice Dipankar Datta expressed grief on the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam attack and stated that the Supreme Court had taken a resolution that all legal service committees would do their job.
Speaking to ANI, Datta said “Our hearts go out to all the bereaved family members. We have taken a resolution in the Supreme Court. We are with the victims, whatever can be done as part of NALSA or any other legal services committee, definitely the committees will do their job. We pray to God that this does not happen again…”
Delhi High Court judge Justice Saurabh Banerjee expressed hope that the dawn of a good day would come soon.
“I regret what has happened…I suppose that we’ll soon see the dawn of a good day, and we will have our brothers and sisters in Kashmir sharing the same belief which we as Indians share with them…” Banerjee said.
Meanwhile, the family of Shubham Dwivedi, one of the victims of the attack, requested the government to grant him the status of a martyr.
Recalling the horrific attack, Dwivedi’s wife Eshanaay expressed her grief and concern, stating that the victims’ families are forgotten and thus requesting martyr status.
“People forget the victims’ families, such as those in the Pulwama attack, the 26/11 attacks… We don’t want Shubham to be forgotten, and therefore, I request the government to grant him the status of a martyr,” she said.
Terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on April 22, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen while leaving several others injured, in one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. (ANI)
Govt taking action: Former Army Chief VK Singh
Former Army Chief and Mizoram Governor General VK Singh Sunday expressed his deep sadness over the recent Pahalgam terror attack and called on the public to exercise caution to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In an interview, Singh emphasized the importance of patience, adding that the central government is actively addressing the situation.
“It is a very sad incident. The government is taking certain actions against this. We all need to be patient. We need to keep our eyes and ears open in the future so that, if we see something abnormal, we can catch it beforehand,” Singh told reporters.
The Pahalgam attack has sparked widespread calls for stronger action against Pakistan. Earlier on the same day, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee called for decisive measures, urging India to go beyond symbolic responses and take direct action. Banerjee stated that it was time to “teach them a lesson in a language they understand” and “reclaim Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
In a post on X, Banerjee said, “It’s time we rise above such petty politics and confront this issue decisively, once and for all. This is not the moment for more surgical strikes or symbolic threats to Pakistan. It’s time to teach them a lesson in the language they understand. It’s time to reclaim Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Period (Sic).”
The terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam targeted tourists, killing 26 people, including one Nepalese national. The victims were gunned down near Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist destination in the region. This attack marks one of the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which resulted in the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans.
In response, National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams have been deployed at the site since April 23. These teams, led by senior officers from the anti-terror agency, have intensified their efforts to gather evidence. Eyewitnesses who saw the attack are being questioned in a bid to piece together the events.
The Indian Army has also launched several operations in a heightened state of alert to neutralize the terrorists involved. Following the attack, nationwide protests have erupted, demanding stricter action against Pakistan for its alleged role in sponsoring terrorism.
On April 23, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met and was briefed in detail about the attack. The committee strongly condemned the incident and expressed its condolences to the victims’ families, while also wishing for the swift recovery of those injured.
In its briefing, the CCS pointed out the cross-border connections of the attack, noting that it occurred after the successful completion of elections in the Union Territory and amidst its continued progress in economic development.
As part of the response, India has taken a significant step by withdrawing its Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These positions are now considered annulled, and five support staff members of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both missions.
Furthermore, the overall staffing at the Indian High Commission will be reduced from 55 to 30 personnel, with these changes set to take effect by May 1, 2025. (ANI)
