New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday announced the construction of a memorial at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam to honour the 26 victims of the April 22 terror attack.
Speaking at a gathering of tour and travel operators, Abdullah confirmed that the state cabinet had given in-principle approval to the Public Works Department to begin work on the memorial. “We have been discussing this from day one. A memorial will be built at Baisaran for the 26 innocent lives lost – a lasting tribute and a reminder that they will never be forgotten,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the memorial would be dignified, respectful, and architecturally significant, and said suggestions from the public and civil society would be invited to ensure it appropriately honours the victims.
Symbolic Cabinet Meeting in Pahalgam
Abdullah made the announcement after holding a special cabinet meeting in Pahalgam – a move seen as both a symbolic defiance of terrorism and a demonstration of solidarity with the region, which has seen a significant decline in tourism since the attack.
Addressing the media, Abdullah stressed the need to decouple tourism from conflict narratives. “Tourism should be conflict-neutral. It should not serve as a barometer for normalcy,” he said. He also highlighted governance challenges in the union territory, stating, “There is a strange system in J&K – tourism is my responsibility, but security is not.”
Call for a Memorial
The announcement follows a proposal submitted by the NGO People’s Action, which had urged the government to establish a memorial in Baisaran. The organisation said such a gesture would acknowledge the loss of innocent lives and serve as a stark reminder of the region’s struggle with terrorism and religious violence.
“We are hopeful the Chief Minister will lead this effort and help bring closure to a tragedy that affected so many,” said People’s Action founder Sanjay Kaul.
April 22 Pahalgam Attack
On April 22, suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants carried out one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, opening fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley. The attack left 26 people dead, including several foreign nationals, and injured many more. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar affiliate, initially claimed responsibility but later withdrew the claim after international condemnation.
In the wake of the attack, India downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, announcing a series of retaliatory measures. These included the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani military attachés, reduction of Pakistan’s diplomatic presence in India, and closure of Indian airspace to Pakistani airlines.
