Baisaran Tragedy
There was complete peace in the valley, before the massacre of 26 tourists and one local, took place, in broad day light on 22nd of April 2025, at Baisaran Pahalgam, known as mini-Switzerland. With the opening of Tulip garden at Srinagar there was huge rush of tourists at Srinagar and other places. A record number of more than half a million tourists and locals visited the Tulip garden to enjoy the spring blooming of perennial Herbaceous bulbiferous tulips, besides thousands of tourists thronged Mughal gardens daily since their opening on 14th of April, the Baisaki day. The business community related to tourism were all satisfied with the rush of tourists particularly in the month of April, considered to be a lean period so far as tourist season is concerned.
22nd April will be remembered as the darkest day in the history of Kashmir. The Baisaran massacre is one of the greatest tragedies of the valley since the eruption of the militancy in 1990. How cruel these terrorists are that they killed the innocent tourists in presence and before the eyes of their kith and kin. The eye witness account details a horrific scene of terror. We all condemn this barbaric act of these brute savages. The people of the valley are in a shock over the tragic death of these tourists who had come here to spent few days to enjoy the scenic beauty of valley and to get sigh of relief from the hot temperature they were experiencing in their native states. Leaving aside the call of political leaders, for the first time the people in general came out of their own to condemn this barbaric act and mourn the tragic death of these innocent persons. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Industries, Hotel Association of Kashmir, other trade unions and civil societies protested, and in one voice condemned the brutality of terrorists and demanded the death punishment for the terrorists involved in this carnage and their perpetrators for committing this heinous crime. The students of various schools also took out processions to condemn this genocide.
If we go back to the brief political history of Kashmir since partition, we will come to know that it is the political leaders who made Kashmir as conflict zone for their selfish interests. In 1947, the part of Jammu Kashmir state known as POK was left to the mercy of our neighbouring country, when the same could have been easily retrieved from the clutches of the raiders who were retreating back. This was done by the then PM for the interest of his friend SMA to make his and his family’s political future safe to rule JK till they wish. And later on put him in jail in 1953. And again in 1975 he was made the CM without being elected, on the support of their party MLAs by the then PM. The rigging of 1987 by NC for few seats, which triggered the militancy is wholly and solely responsible for this political mess, sufferings of the people and migration of KPs. And this was the last nail in the coffin of democratic set up of Jammu and Kashmir. Then again in 1996, Farooq Abdullah was again invited to contest the elections and take reigns of the state, when the percentage of votes polled in that election was very low.
Undoubtedly, after the abrogation of article 370, on 5th August of 2019, the pelting of stones by the miscreants had stopped and the peace restored to a great extent. There was no call for Hartals, that was given off and on. Now the writ of government prevailed. With the passage of time the business also picked up and tourism gained momentum. For last 4 to 5 years, there seemed to be quite normalcy in the valley excepting few incidents of target killings. The militancy was on decline. The parliament and assembly elections in 2024 were held smoothly and in a peaceful atmosphere. The people came out in large numbers to cast their votes which showed the signs of normalcy. As a result, the percentage of voting was unexpectedly very high in both the election. It was more than 60%, a record in the electoral history of J&K. But the enemy country was not happy with the economic revival and prevailing peace in Kashmir. The enemy country is a failed state and going through worst economic and political crisis. And therefore in order to divert the attention of their people from the crisis, their leaders and establishment are bent upon to create incidents of terror in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir to hit our economy and instil fear and threat among the peace loving people of this Union Territory to fulfil their nefarious designs. Since the people of POK are fed up with the breakdown of the law and order, economic crisis and bankruptcy in that country, they are also now willing to join this part of Kashmir.
Biasaran is hardly 5 kms away from Pahalgam. Reportedly the tourists used to visit this scenic spot in thousands, daily. The security forces and local police posted in Pahalgam were supposed to be alert and vigilant about the movement of militants in view of recent incidents and encounters that took place in the area of Pirpanchal range like Kishtiwar, Dodu Basantgarh area of Udhampur, Khatua district and even in neighbouring districts of Kulgam and Shopian, for safety of the tourists. It is surprising that there was no presence of the local police by way of patrolling or temporary establishment of a police picket from concerned police station at a place where thousands of tourists thronged. This was a general observation of the eye witnesses who saw the carnage of their kith and kin. The concerned authority needs to take serious note of this observation and make their subordinates accountable to prevent such horrific incidents in future. With malice to none, it was, to some extent, a security lapse.
Ab. Rashid Khan IPS, , former IGP
