Group of Concerned Citizens urge LG Sinha, CM Omar to ensure safety of Kashmiris outside valley

Srinagar: In the wake of the brutal attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including 25 tourists and one local resident, the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), Jammu and Kashmir, has written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiri students and professionals living outside the Union Territory.

In a letter addressed to both leaders, GCC strongly condemned the April 22 attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, calling it a “ghastly and dastardly act” that not only targeted innocent tourists but also struck at the core of Kashmir’s peaceful and hospitable identity.

“This reprehensible act of terrorism is a first of its kind in terms of brutality,” the letter read, adding that the local population is as outraged and heartbroken as the rest of the country.

The group extended its condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for strength and patience for those grieving the irreplaceable loss of their loved ones.

However, the letter also flagged a growing concern amongst families in Kashmir — the fear for the safety of Kashmiris residing in other parts of India, especially students and workers.

“A new worry is enveloping Kashmir,” the letter said, urging both the UT and Central governments to coordinate with states and Union Territories across the country to safeguard Kashmiris from any backlash or targeted hostility.

The letter was signed by Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, retired IAS officer and chairperson of the GCC, on behalf of the group.

The GCC called for “timely intervention by security and law enforcement agencies across India to prevent any spillover of communal tension or acts of collective blame in the aftermath of the terror strike”.