UN’s Guterres slams unacceptable terror attack on civilians in Kashmir
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was quick to strongly denounce the armed assault on Jammu and Kashmir which earlier on Tuesday claimed at least 28 lives. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, answering queries, reaffirmed the condemnation by the Secretary-General of the assault.
News agencies are citing one shooter who had opened fire randomly into a crowd in the area around the town of Pahalgam, in the south of the region, and killing more than two dozen people.
He offers his deepest sympathies to the relatives of those who lost their loved ones, said Mr. Dujarric. He highlighted “that attacks on civilians are unacceptable in any circumstances.” Jammu and Kashmir have been disputed by Pakistan and India since the end of British colonialism in the late 1940s.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for ‘maximum restraint’ throughout the Jammu and Kashmir area. The territory has been disputed between India and Pakistan since the latter terminated UK government in the late 1940s.
At least two dozen individuals were murdered after the local travelers had been attacked with gunfire by armed men who approached a scenic spot frequented by tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, government officials have confirmed.
The attack occurred in Pahalgam, a scenic Himalayan town usually referred to as the “Switzerland of India.”.
Omar Abdullah, the regional chief minister, called the attack “much larger than anything we’ve seen targeted at civilians in recent years”. There are reports that there are a large number of injured, some of whom are in critical condition.
The assault was launched in Baisaran, a mountain meadow three miles (5km) from Pahalgam.
Cars cannot access the spot where firing took place, Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Vidi Kumar Birdi informed BBC Hindi.
One of the Gujarat tourists, who was in a group that was attacked, explained that panic erupted when the unexpected attack occurred, and everyone began running, weeping and screaming. Footage posted by Indian media shows Indian soldiers running towards the site of the attack, while victims can be heard in other footage telling them that the attackers had targeted non-Muslims.
Video on social media, which the BBC has not confirmed, seems to depict bodies on a meadow with people crying and begging for assistance. Police reported several tourists had been hospitalized with gunshot injuries. The region has been sealed off and soldiers are intercepting vehicles at checkpoints. An Indian army and Jammu and KashmirPalestine, Jammu and Kashmir: Both are suffering with same type of issues police joint search operation is under way.
