Attack on tourists is an attack on Kashmir itself: Fruit Growers

Srinagar, Apr 24: All fruit and vegetable markets across the Kashmir Valley remained closed for the second consecutive day as traders and growers staged widespread protests condemning Tuesday's deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, one of Kashmir's premier vacation destinations.

The April 22 incident, which involved indiscriminate shooting at visitors, resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries among tourists, sending shockwaves through the region's business community and residents alike.

On Thursday, April 24, coordinated protest processions were organised across all major fruit and vegetable mandis in the Valley, including Parimpora (Srinagar), Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara, Char-e-Shareef, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Jablipora, Pachar, and Zazna Ganderbal.

Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union (KVFGDU) and leader of the protests at Fruit Mandi Parimpora, Srinagar, spoke passionately to gathered demonstrators.

"What happened in Pahalgam is not just an attack on innocent tourists but an assault on our very identity as Kashmiris," Basheer declared. "For generations, we have prided ourselves on our hospitality toward visitors. This cowardly act stands against everything we believe in. The perpetrators have not only killed innocent people but also attempted to damage the fragile tourism ecosystem that thousands of valley residents depend upon for their livelihood."

The markets had initially suspended operations on Wednesday, April 23, immediately following news of the attack, and extended the shutdown through Thursday as a mark of protest and mourning.

Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President of Fruit Mandi Sopore, led hundreds of traders in his district, carrying placards condemning the violence. Similarly, Muhammad Ashraf Wani in Shopian, Ghulam Muhammad Banday in Kulgam, and market presidents from all twelve major trading centres mobilised their communities in a show of solidarity.

"We share this grief and sorrow with the families of deceased tourists and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," read a joint statement issued by the market associations. "Our business depends on peace and normalcy in the valley. Such attacks only harm the common Kashmiri who has already suffered decades of uncertainty."

The fruit and vegetable trade forms the backbone of Kashmir's agricultural economy, with thousands of families dependent on these markets for their livelihood. The unprecedented closure of all markets reflects the depth of feeling among the trading community.

"In my thirty years in this business, I have never seen such unanimous outrage across all markets," added Basheer. "Today, we are not just fruit sellers showing sympathy—we are Kashmiris saying in one voice that this violence does not represent us. We stand with the victims and their families in this difficult time, and we demand that authorities ensure such incidents never occur again."