Pahalgam Killings: Taxi Operators’ Union and BJP Pulwama protest, condemn attack

PULWAMA — Anger and grief swept through Pulwama on Wednesday as the Taxi Operators’ Union and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Pulwama unit held separate protest demonstrations against the brutal killings of 28 civilians in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The attack, which took place on Tuesday afternoon, has sparked widespread outrage across the region, with locals condemning the violence and demanding strict action against the perpetrators.

Taxi Operators’ Union: “Attack on tourism is an attack on our livelihood”

Led by Abdul Rehman, president of the Taxi Operators’ Union Pulwama, protesters raised slogans against the massacre, calling it an assault not just on innocent lives but also on Kashmir’s economy.

“This attack on tourists is an attack on the livelihood of Kashmiris, especially those dependent on tourism,” Rehman said. “Religion should have no role in this—we condemn all killings of innocents, regardless of faith.”

Rehman urged tourists and visitors not to fear, assuring them of safety and solidarity. “We have opened our doors for them. Kashmiris stand with those who come here in peace,” he said, emphasizing that such violence disrupts daily life and threatens the Valley’s fragile normalcy.

BJP Pulwama unit marches in solidarity, demands stronger security

Meanwhile, the BJP’s Pulwama unit organized a protest rally from their office to Murran Chowk, condemning the killings and expressing solidarity with the victims.

Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans such as “Masoomon ka qatle-aam band karo” (Stop the massacre of innocents) and “Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Isayi, apas mein hain bhai bhai” (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians—we are all brothers).

Party members called the attack a deliberate strike against Kashmir’s return to peace since 2019. “These killings shame all Kashmiris. We stand with the victims and demand tighter security to prevent such tragedies,” a BJP representative said.

A unified call for peace

Both protests pointed out the widespread anger over the attack, with demonstrators stressing that such violence harms Kashmir’s social fabric and economic stability.

As investigations continue, people demand timely justice and reassurance that tourists and locals alike can live without fear.

However, the incident has reignited concerns over security in Kashmir Valley, even as civil society and political groups unite in their condemnation, sending a clear message against innocent killings.