'Terrorists Will See Loud & Clear Response': Rajnath Singh Warns Of Retaliation Against Pahalgam Attack

Pahalgam: Reacting to the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said, "We lost many innocent lives in the cowardly act in Pahalgam. We are deeply distressed."

He further said, "I express my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones... I want to repeat India's resolve against terrorism. We have a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism... I want to assure the countrymen that the government will take every necessary step."

Warning about retaliation Singh said, "We will not only reach the perpetrators of this act but also the actors behind the scenes... The terrorists will soon see a loud and clear response, I want to assure the country."

At least 28 people, mostly tourists, were shot dead by terrorists in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday. The Resistance Front, a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reached Srinagar on Tuesday night, met with the families of the deceased and survivors.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also reached Pahalgam to assist the local police in the investigation. Security agencies have released sketches of three men suspected to be involved in the attack.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex-Garcia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.