Overview

• The Kashmir Valley experienced its first complete shutdown in 35 years, with businesses, private schools, and public transport largely halted in response to the Pahalgam attack.
• Kashmiri newspapers, including Greater Kashmir and Rising Kashmir, printed black front pages to symbolize collective grief and condemnation of the violence.
• Security forces have heightened deployments, established checkpoints, and launched an extensive search operation in the Baisaran area to apprehend the attackers.
• Political parties, civil society groups, religious bodies, and trade associations united in calling for the bandh, emphasizing solidarity with the victims and their families.
• The attack, which targeted tourists in a high-traffic area, has reignited concerns over regional stability, the safety of Kashmir’s tourism sector, and the need for enhanced security measures.