Pahalgam Attack: At Least Two Gunmen Singled Out and Killed Non-Muslims

Pahalgam: At least two gunmen among four or five believed to be involved in the attack in Pahalgam were singling out non-Muslims from a large crowd of people who were in the Baisaran valley on Tuesday (April 22) afternoon when the carnage – in which at least 26 civilians were gunned down – was underway, The Wire can confirm.

Highly placed source- and eyewitness-accounts collected by The Wire, some of which have been verified by officials, paint a horrifying picture of the carnage in which some victims were shot at point-blank range after their non-Muslim identity was confirmed by the gunmen, who were also apparently filming the attack with body cameras.

According to an official source, the attack started at around 2:50 pm when a barrage of gunfire bore through joyful scenes in the pristine meadow, which is located some seven kilometres from the main bowl of Pahalgam and is bordered by a dense forest on one side.

Witnesses said that there were around 1,500 to 2,500 people including tourists, horse attendants, photographers, shawl sellers, tea stall owners and some bhelpuri (a popular snack) vendors among others in the area when the attackers struck.

Tourists must buy an entry ticket to gain access to the meadow, popularly known as ‘mini-Switzerland’, which was bustling with activities like zorbing and zip-line rides and while some children were taking turns to jump on a trampoline board at the time of the attack.

A couple of tourists were also taking photographs in traditional attire.

As per a witness account, the attackers fanned out in the meadow after seemingly emerging from the forest as the sound of gunshots could be heard emanating from different directions.

The attack lasted between 30 and 40 minutes, a source said, which left the lush-green meadow stained with blood red.

Indian Army personnel at the site of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 23, 2025. Photo: PTI.

“One victim was asked to recite the qalima [a declaration of faith by Muslims]. When he failed to do so, he was shot in the head. Those who recited the qalima were spared,” said a young man, quoting his brother who was present in Baisaran at the time of the attack and saw at least one of the attackers in action.

However, a top source said that the perpetrators didn't target only those visitors who failed to prove their Muslim credentials.

“Some of the victims were fired upon also perhaps because of their attire. A woman was wearing vermilion and a bindi, and a gunman shot her husband at point-blank range without asking them any questions,” the source said.

The brother of the young man quoted above, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, is among several dozen menial workers who earn a livelihood in Baisaran.

According to officials, some of them are presently being probed by investigators of the National Investigation Agency in connection with the deadliest strike on tourists in Kashmir since the armed insurgency erupted in the early 1990s.

Another eyewitness who spoke with The Wire on the condition of anonymity said that he was having tea at a stall in Baisaran when the attack happened.

“I first heard screams that militants had fired at some tourists. From a distance, I could see everyone was running for their lives while the sounds of intermittent gunshots rang in the air,” he said, adding that he came out of the makeshift tea stall only after the firing stopped.

People attend the funeral of Syed Adil Hussain, who was killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Photo: PTI/S Irfan.

“Along with other ponywallas, we hauled some of the injured tourists on horseback and brought them down to Pahalgam. Some tourists were injured as they couldn’t run away and fell down while the panicked crowds were fleeing,” he said.

A video shot during the time of the attack suggests that two distinct sounds of gunshots reverberated in the meadow when the carnage was underway. However, the police have said that the attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have also released sketches of at least three suspected Pakistani perpetrators involved in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by the members of The Resistance Front, a shadow outfit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

The three suspects are believed to have infiltrated recently into Kashmir along with two local militants from south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Pulwama districts.

Another witness said that the attackers also ensured that women and children were not harmed during the carnage. This claim was also verified by officials.

“The amount of time spent by the attackers in the meadow, who seem to have carefully chosen their targets, suggests a high degree of reconnaissance, training and planning,” sources said.

Syed Adil Hussain, the lone Kashmiri Muslim who died in the attack, is believed to have suffered bullet injuries while attempting to save some tourists from the attackers, according to reports.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.