ANANTNAG, April 23, 2025: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended the funeral of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator killed in a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Anantnag district. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday in the picturesque Baisaran meadows, claimed 26 lives, predominantly tourists, marking it as one of the deadliest strikes in the region in recent years.
Shah, a local resident of Hapatnar, was the sole Kashmiri victim of the attack. According to eyewitnesses, he was shot dead while attempting to confront the terrorists, displaying remarkable bravery. The funeral, held in his native village, saw a large turnout of mourners, including local residents and political figures. Chief Minister Abdullah offered his condolences to Shah’s family, assuring them of the government’s full support during this period of grief.
The attack has been claimed by The Resistance Front , a shadowy militant group, and has triggered widespread condemnation across the Valley. In response, a Kashmir-wide shutdown was observed, with businesses and schools closed as a mark of protest and mourning. Security forces have launched a massive manhunt to track down the perpetrators, with increased checkpoints and patrols in the region.
The Pahalgam attack has raised concerns about the safety of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, a region that has seen a significant uptick in tourism in recent years. Authorities have vowed to strengthen security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.