India: 28 Hindu tourists shot dead by suspected Islamist militants in Pahalgam after verifying their religious identity

Image: Jihad Watch

Twenty-six-year-old Asavari Jagdale recounted the horrific moment when terrorists killed her father after he was unable to recite the Islamic declaration of faith, the Kalma. The attackers confronted her father, a 54-year-old businessman from Pune, and demanded he say the verse. When he couldn’t, they shot him three times—once in the head, once behind the ear, and once in the back. "My uncle, who was standing next to me, was also shot several times. Many other men were killed right there. There was no one to help us," said the devastated young woman, recalling the traumatic event.

Forty-one-year-old Bharat Bhushan, a tech professional from Bengaluru, was brutally gunned down in front of his wife and three-year-old son during a terror attack in Kashmir. His mother-in-law, who had spoken to her daughter shortly after the tragedy, shared the harrowing details with the media. "They asked them to show their Aadhaar cards, and after checking, they were killed. They asked, 'Are you Muslim or Hindu?' They questioned them and then murdered him. My son-in-law was holding the baby. They made him put the baby down before shooting him."

“They told her, 'If you’re Muslim, we’ll spare you.' But how could they say they were Muslim after already telling them they were Hindu? They shot him in the head after confirming he was Hindu.” She added that the attackers “kept shooting him for about three minutes. They didn’t stop until he was dead. They shot him in the head.” The attack has left the family devastated, a heart-wrenching example of the religious hatred driving such violence.

A disturbing video surfaced online, showing a woman crying as she described how Islamic jihadis shot tourists point-blank after identifying them as Hindus. She is not alone—multiple survivor accounts confirm a similar chilling pattern: the attackers first demanded ID cards, asked for names, and in some cases, even forced men to pull down their pants to check for circumcision before opening fire. The brutality and religious targeting have shocked the nation, revealing the horrifying depths of hatred that fueled this massacre.

A haunting image from the attack shows a newlywed woman sitting beside her husband's lifeless body, devastated. She was on her honeymoon, having married just days before.

Among the 28 victims, there was one Muslim man tragically caught in the crossfire, an unintended casualty of the attack. However, his death does not lessen the religiously motivated nature of the assault. This was undoubtedly a terror strike fueled by communal hatred, targeting people based on their faith. The incident highlights the ongoing devastation caused by violent extremism in the region.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, vowing that those responsible would be held accountable and reaffirming India’s commitment to combating terrorism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Srinagar to assess the situation and coordinate the security response. Security forces have launched a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators, and a helpline has been set up to assist affected tourists.

The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressed deep sorrow and affirmed Israel's solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack a “brutal crime” with no justification. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who was in India at the time, also condemned the violence and offered condolences to the victims.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)