Pahalgam LIVE: 500 Pakistanis leave India; demolitions continue in Kashmir

Authorities have demolished the houses of three alleged active terrorists in Bandipora, Pulwama and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir as security forces continued their crackdown on the terror ecosystem following the Pahalgam terror attack.

With this, nine houses of suspected terrorists and overground workers of terror outfits have been razed so far since the April 22 Baisaran attack.

Security forces have raided more than 500 locations in the Valley in just five days and grilled hundreds of suspects. Political parties have urged the Centre to ensure that innocent people are not targeted while it goes after terrorists.

Carrying on with the targeted demolition drive, authorities pulled down the house of Adnan Shafi at Wandina in Shopian district on Saturday night, officials said and claimed that Shafi had joined terrorist ranks last year.

The house of another suspected active terrorist Amir Nazir was pulled down in Pulwama district, they said.

In Bandipora district, the house of suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Jameel Ahmad Shergojri, was razed. Officials said Shergojri has been an active terrorist since 2016.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre should proceed carefully and avoid alienating innocent people while hunting down terrorists.

The former chief minister alleged there were reports of “thousands being arrested and scores of houses of common Kashmiris being demolished along with those of militants”.

“I appeal to the government to direct the authorities to take care that innocent people are not made to bear the brunt as alienation aids terrorists’ goals of division and fear,” she added.

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also asked the Centre not to punish innocent Kashmiris in its quest for justice for the victims of the terror attack.

“I urge the authorities that in seeking justice for the innocent victims do not punish innocent Kashmiri families,” he said on X.

People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone said those handling law and order should not do anything that can reverse the mindset that has changed after the Pahalgam attack. “The mass protests against the Pahalgam killings was a rare occurrence, a first of its kind in the last 78 years... This a monumental shift, a milestone, but fragile at the same time. I hope that those in charge of law and order do understand the significance of the shift and don't do anything erroneously which impedes the shift or facilitates a return to the earlier mindset,” he wrote on X.

The former minister said there was a general feeling across the Valley that the whole family was being punished for the actions of one person.

The high-altitude tourist destinations of Guldanda and Chattargalla in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district were reopened for visitors on Sunday amid heightened security arrangements including deployment of army.

The two much-sought after tourist destinations along the Bhaderwah-Pathankot national highway were closed for visitors as a precautionary measure in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.

After fresh review of the security arrangements along with deployment of additional forces, both the destinations were opened on Sunday morning with Army and police deployments welcoming the holiday-makers by presenting roses, a development which brought cheers on the faces of the locals connected with tourism.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has rubbished reports about Pakistani nationals being missing in the state and said all of them were accounted for.

He said arrangements are being made to deport Pakistani nationals as per the Centre’s directives.

The exit deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the neighbouring nation ended Sunday.

“As the state’s Home Minister, I request you not to run any wrong news on this issue. No Pakistani national is missing in Maharashtra, and all of them have been found. Arrangements have been made to deport them all, and there will be no Pakistani citizens left in the state. Everyone will be sent back by this evening or tomorrow,” Fadnavis said.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters in Buldhana that there is no reason to show mercy to Pakistan and Pakistanis.

“Those who are sheltering Pakistanis will also not be spared,” he said.

An investigation has been launched into allegations of pro-Pakistan slogans being raised at a candlelight march organised by the RJD in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district against the Pahalgam terror attack.

A purported video of the RJD’s candlelight march held on Saturday went viral on social media, showing a section of people raising pro-Pakistan slogans.

Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar said the investigation was started, taking suo motu cognisance of the viral video.

“An investigation has been started into the allegations that pro-Pakistan slogans were raised by a section of workers of a political party during a protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in the town on Saturday. Investigators are examining the authenticity of the video. Strict action will be taken against those who are found guilty,” he said.

District RJD president Kalicharan Das said it was a sheer “mistake” by some party workers.

“I was also part of the protest march. Every party worker shouted slogans against Pakistan,” he said.

Any Pakistani, who fails to leave India by the deadlines set by the government, will be arrested, prosecuted and may face a jail term of up to three years or a fine of a maximum Rs 3 lakh or both.

The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline is April 29.

The 12 categories of visas whose holders have to leave India by Sunday are — visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim and group pilgrim.