₹2 Million Reward Announced for Information on Pahalgam Terror Attackers
Pahalgam, Anantnag district, Kashmir Valley — April 23, 2025
The idyllic tourist resort of Pahalgam, famed for its pine‑lined Lidder River and alpine meadows, was plunged into grief on Wednesday evening when three gunmen in counterfeit army fatigues opened fire on holiday‑makers. The brief but brutal assault claimed 26 lives and left 31 others wounded, according to officials at Anantnag District Hospital and Srinagar’s SKIMS trauma centre.
The Incident
The attack occurred around 5:35 p.m. near the Pahalgam‑Aru Road T‑junction, a zone normally secured by a combined checkpoint of Jammu & Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Eyewitnesses say the assailants arrived on foot from a forested trail, produced automatic rifles, and sprayed more than 70 rounds in less than a minute before fleeing towards the upstream pine slopes. Several tourist coaches, pony handlers, and tea stalls were caught in the line of fire.
Immediate Security Response
Within minutes, security forces initiated a massive cordon‑and‑search (CASO) over a 12‑kilometre radius encompassing the Aru valley villages of Batakoot, Gur, and Lidroo. Army units from the 9 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF’s 116 Battalion, and J&K Police’s Special Operations Group are combing dense forest tracts with sniffer dogs, UAVs, and thermal imagers. Preliminary forensic leads suggest the weapons were Chinese‑made QBZ‑95 variants, often trafficked through northern militancy pipelines.
Police sources believe the strike was executed by a newly surfaced module calling itself “Ansar‑at‑Tawheed Kashmir”, possibly splintered from larger outfits that have faced heavy attrition in South Kashmir over the past year.
Cash Reward & Confidentiality
Announcing the investigation’s next prong, Anantnag Senior Superintendent of Police Shuaib Lone told reporters:
“Any specific tip — no matter how small — that helps us identify or locate the perpetrators will be rewarded with ₹20 lakh (≈ $24,000) in cash. Identities of informants will remain absolutely confidential.”
A dedicated multilingual helpline 14413 and encrypted WhatsApp channels have been activated to receive leads. Lone added that the bounty was cleared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under an accelerated “terror crime” compensation clause aimed at harnessing civilian cooperation.
Tourism & Economic Fallout
Pahalgam welcomed nearly 380,000 domestic and 58,000 foreign tourists in the first quarter of FY 2024‑25. Industry insiders fear a wave of booking cancellations in the run‑up to the crucial May‑June peak season, potentially diverting travellers to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department has convened an emergency meeting with hoteliers to roll out a “Safe Pahalgam” reassurance campaign featuring real‑time safety alerts, geo‑fenced advisories, and upgraded CCTV grids across 15 large hotels and camping sites.
Next Steps
- Enhanced Disaster Protocols: Rapid‑response medical teams and mobile bullet‑proof bunkers on key trekking routes.
- Tech‑Driven Vigilance: Roll‑out of a “Safe Pahalgam” app offering one‑tap SOS and push notifications in eight Indian languages.
- Joint Intelligence Grid: Daily coordination cells linking Army, CRPF, J&K Police, and the National Investigation Agency to pool human and electronic intelligence.
Officials remain optimistic that the hefty reward and community outreach will accelerate the manhunt. “We have cracked tougher cases before; with local support, we will neutralise this module too,” SSP Lone asserted, urging residents and tourists alike to “stay vigilant but not fearful.”
