Three Kerala high court judges narrowly escape Pahalgam terror attack

NEW DELHI: Three Kerala high court judges narrowly escaped the Pahalgam attack, in which over 28 people tourists lost their lives, during their visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
The vacationing group comprised Justices Anil K. Narendran, G. Girish and P. G. Ajithkumar, who were accompanied by their family members in their trip to Jammu and Kashmir.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also confirmed and said, "Kerala High Court judges, Justices Anil K Narendran, P G Ajithkumar and G Girish, as well as MLAs M Mukesh, K P A Majeed, T Siddique and K Ansalan were in Srinagar, but safe."
The CM said that the judges were expected to return to Kerala on Wednesday.
The attack is the deadliest terrorist act in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
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The incident took place at Baisaran meadow, situated 7 km away from Pahalgam, a tourist destination known for its tranquil atmosphere and scenic landscapes.
Witness accounts reveal that six foreign militants, wearing military uniforms, conducted a targeted assault based on religious identity. The perpetrators reportedly asked people to state their names and demonstrate knowledge of Islamic verses before shooting them at close range.
The incident unfolded at 1.30 pm whilst visitors were spending time in the grassland, which is encompassed by snow-topped peaks and pine trees. Despite robust security measures, including multiple checkpoints and armed personnel patrolling the area, the assailants successfully infiltrated the tourist location and created devastation.
In response, security personnel have initiated an extensive search operation to locate the militants responsible for the attack.
"The search operation is currently in progress, with all efforts focused on bringing the attackers to justice," the Indian army's Chinar Corps said in a statement overnight.