SRINAGAR — As misinformation and hate-filled narratives circulate on social media following the deadly attack in Pahalgam that killed 25 tourists and a local resident, several voices from across the country are countering the divisive discourse by highlighting the compassion and solidarity shown by ordinary Kashmiris in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Among the most notable responses came from acclaimed Malayalam writer N.S. Madhavan, who took to social media to narrate how locals had rushed to help survivors during the chaos. “Manjunath Rao was killed after ascertaining his faith. His widow Pallavi said that after the incident, three local men chanting ‘Bismillah, Bismillah’ rescued her. ‘They were like my brothers,’ she added,” Madhavan wrote in a widely shared post.
In a tragic yet powerful symbol of unity, one of the 26 victims was a local Muslim, Syed Adil Hussain Shah of Hapatnard, Pahalgam. Many social media users described him as one of the kind-hearted souls who likely tried to help others amid the gunfire.
Locals in Kashmir Valley, as per the news agency KNT, have been holding protest rallies and observing a shutdown to express outrage over the killings, contradicting narratives that accuse the Kashmiri public of indifference. “The people of Kashmir are in mourning. We are heartbroken. This attack is against humanity,” a protester said.
Despite this, some sections of right-wing social media have attempted to paint these protests as disingenuous, claiming locals are only concerned about the tourism industry being affected. Inflammatory posts and headlines, some from mainstream Hindi dailies, have tried to inject communal tones into the tragedy, drawing sharp criticism from peace advocates and civil society members.
“There is a deliberate attempt to communalize a human tragedy. This is not the time to spread hate but to acknowledge the courage of locals who helped victims and to stand in solidarity with the innocent lives lost,” one social media user commented.
Amid the noise of misinformation, these stories of human empathy and unity serve as a reminder of the resilience and compassion still alive in the Valley.
