Pahalgam LIVE: Massive anti-terror crackdown in Srinagar, Doda, Kishtwar
As part of the stepped-up anti-terror operations, security forces have raided more than 600 locations in the Valley in just six days and grilled hundreds of suspects
Police on Monday (April 28) carried out raids at dozens of places in Srinagar, Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir as part of the massive clampdown on terror ecosystem launched after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead.
A spokesman said the searches were carried out across the length and breadth of Srinagar city at 36 locations. Most of the premises belong to terrorists or terrorist sympathisers.
As part of the stepped-up anti-terror operations, security forces have raided more than 600 locations in the Valley in just six days and grilled hundreds of suspects. Authorities have also demolished nine houses of suspected terrorists and overground workers of terror outfits since the April 22 attack in the lush meadows of Baisaran.
Ban on Pak YouTube channels
The Centre on Monday blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News and Ary News, for allegedly disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content as well as false and misleading narratives against India, its Army, and security agencies.
The decision was taken following recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the April 22 terror attack at Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
The other banned YouTube channels include Irshad Bhatti, SAMAA TV, BOL NEWS, Raftar, The Pakistan Referenc, Geo News, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, SUNO News, and Razi Naama.
Letter to BBC
The government has also sent a formal letter to the BBC over its terming terrorists "militants" in its reportage on the Pahalgam tragedy.
In a communication to Jackie Martin, BBC's India Head, the Ministry of External Affairs has conveyed the country's strong sentiments regarding their reporting on the terror attack at Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
"A formal letter has been sent to the BBC on the terming of terrorists as militants. The External Publicity Division of the MEA will be monitoring the reporting of the BBC," the official said.
Unprovoked Pak firing for 4th day
Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kupwara districts, continuing with their ceasefire violations along the LoC, Army officials said on Monday.
This was the fourth consecutive night that Pakistan resorted to small-arms fire along the Line of Control (LoC) and came amid heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad following the Pahalgam terror attack.
A defence spokesperson said, "During the night of April 27-28, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts." Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively, he added.
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Live Updates
- 28 April 2025 12:21 PM GMT
Have sought details of Pakistanis living in Jharkhand from FRRO: Jharkhand DGP
The Jharkhand Police have sought the details of Pakistanis living in the state from the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO), DGP Anurag Gupta said on Monday.
He said the Inspector General of the Special Branch has been tasked with obtaining the details from the FRRO, which is based in Kolkata.
After the terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, the Centre revoked all valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals with effect from April 27. The medical visas issued to Pakistanis will be valid till April 29. PTI
- 28 April 2025 12:09 PM GMT
Samajwadis in support of Centre's 'jalbandi’ move against Pakistan: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday extended full support to the government for restricting flow of water to Pakistan following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty among a series of tough retaliatory steps after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav said that it is the "most sensitive" issue and the government has assured that it would take concrete steps, with the most significant being the 'jalbandi' (water blockade) move. "We, the Samajwadis, fully support the government's 'jalbadi' move," he asserted.
Emphasising the need to strengthen national security, Yadav said, "There is a need for the Army at the borders. Whenever you raise the issue of POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir), you must be prepared to counter China as well." Many experts have pointed out that if you look towards POK, you must be ready to face challenges that may arise from China, he said.
When asked about the impact of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty on Pakistan, the SP chief said it was a technical matter beyond his expertise.
"During demonetisation, it was claimed that corruption and terrorism would end. Similarly, we hope that after jalbandi, Pakistan will be finished," he said.
"We don't have much technical knowledge about how much time it will take to build the required infrastructure or reservoirs. Only the government can provide a clear answer," Yadav added.
As he reiterated the demand of giving Rs 10 crore compensation to the families of each person killed in the terrorist attack, the SP chief also raised concern over the “security lapses”.
"Why did terrorists reach our homes? How did they come here," he asked while also demanding a government job for one member from each family affected by the Pahalgam terror attack. PTI
- 28 April 2025 12:07 PM GMT
BJP questions Kharge, Rahul over 'insensitive, shameless' comments of party leaders
The BJP questioned Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday over the comments of several of their colleagues, some of whom have questioned the need for a war with Pakistan and the Pahalgam terror attack victims' account that the terrorists had marked out non-Muslims, asking if their call for national unity was merely a formality.
Addressing a press conference here, former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also lashed out at Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav for saying that he will not visit the grieving family of Shubham Dwivedi, one of the 26 people, mostly tourists, shot dead by terrorists at Pahalgam, as he had no relations with them.
Yadav had, however, added that he would ask his party members to visit the Kanpur-based family and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at times, incites people in mourning to misbehave on such occasions.
This is the height of insensitivity, Prasad said and noted that some Congress leaders even went on to question the accounts of Pahalgam attack victims, including Dwivedi's wife, that the terrorists had identified their victims by religion.
Prasad named a number of Congress leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior Maharashtra leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Karnataka minister RB Timmapur and Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra, for their controversial comments to target the opposition party's leadership.
"Do Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have no control over their party? Or both of them made pro-forma comments while letting others the freedom to speak as they wished?" he asked, adding that the remarks of the opposition leaders are being used in Pakistan, including by its media, to defame India.
Has any warning been given to these Congress leaders or have they been asked to apologise, Prasad asked of the opposition party's leadership.
He said Kharge, the Congress president, and Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, had extended their support to the BJP-led Centre at an all-party meeting over the countermeasures being considered by it following the Pahalgam attack, and said this reflected the strength of India's mature democracy.
However, several Congress leaders have made comments that appeared to be part of a pattern, Prasad said, wondering if the top leadership of the opposition party merely responded in a perfunctory manner in the wake of the attack. PTI
- 28 April 2025 12:05 PM GMT
'Unpleasant, ghastly': Former Nepal PM condemns Pahalgam terror attack
Former Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Monday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, terming it "unpleasant and ghastly" and extended solidarity with the people of India.
"We are with the people of India," he said during an interaction with reporters in Delhi.
At the beginning of the session, one-minute silence was observed in memory of the victims.
On April 22, terrorists opened fire at tourists at a meadow in Baisaran of south Kashmir's Pahalgam, killing 26 people. One of the victims was a Nepal national.
The horrific attack has drawn condemnation from countries and leaders across the world. PTI
- 28 April 2025 11:59 AM GMT
RJD MP writes to PM Modi for Special Session of Parliament
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha writes to PM Narendra Modi requesting for a Special Session of Parliament to be convened to allow an "open and principled discussion on the Pahalgam attack and its broader implications for the security, well being and aspirations of the people of India".
- 28 April 2025 11:49 AM GMT
CPI MP demands special Parliament session on Pahalgam attack
Communist Party of India MP P Sandosh Kumar has written to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, urging him to convene a special session of Parliament on the Pahalgam terror attack.
Kumar, a CPI MP from Rajya Sabha, said the special session would allow members across party lines to come together to mourn the loss and express the will of the nation.
Kumar said the attack did not only cause immense sorrow to the victims' kin, but also shook the "collective conscience of our nation." "In these difficult times, it is imperative that our Parliament – the supreme voice of the people – comes together in solidarity to express our profound grief, pay homage to the victims and reiterate our nation's unyielding resolve against terrorism," he said.
"In view of the magnitude of this tragedy, I urge you to consider convening a Special Session of Parliament at the earliest. Such a session would allow Members across party lines to come together in one voice to mourn the loss, to express the will of the nation and to send a clear and strong message that India remains united, resilient and resolute against those who seek to harm us through acts of terror," he said.
Kumar said Parliament should rise above political divides to embody the spirit and aspirations of the people.
"At this moment of national mourning, a collective expression of solidarity from the highest forum of democracy would be both timely and necessary," he said.
He urged the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry to give the request "due consideration." On April 22, terrorists in Pahalgam gunned down 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
An all-party meeting was called by the government on April 24 after the Pahalgam attack. PTI
