Srinagar: A one-minute silence was observed at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Friday in honour of the victims of the Pahalgam militant attack, which left 26 people dead.
Leading the prayers, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and Hurriyat Conference chairman Umar Farooq condemned the killings in the strongest terms, calling the attack a “heart-wrenching tragedy” that has shaken the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the core.
“This incident broke our hearts,” he said, addressing the congregation emotionally. “The way people were brutally killed after identification and interrogation, in front of their families—it is beyond belief, and horrifying.”
The Mirwaiz said that people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of faith or background, were united in their grief. “Who can understand this pain better than us? Every home here has known loss. Today, we are all crying tears of blood.”
Calling the killings “inhuman,” he said the entire population stood in solidarity with the bereaved families. “Our hearts go out to them. We pray to Almighty Allah to give them strength and grant speedy recovery to the injured.”
He also expressed serious concern over reports and videos of Kashmiri students being harassed in different parts of India following the attack. “Targeting students or anyone from the Valley over this is unacceptable and deeply disturbing,” he said.
The April 22 strike in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, mostly civilians and tourists. India has blamed cross-border elements for the coordinated assault. In response, the Indian government suspended the Indus Water Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, and closed the Attari land post.
