On April 22, 2025, a devastating terrorist attack occurred at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 tourists and injuries to over 20 others. The assailants, believed to be members of the Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), targeted civilians in what is considered one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.
The attackers, reportedly seven in number, were armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s and wore military-style uniforms. They allegedly asked victims to recite Islamic verses before opening fire. A local Kashmiri man, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, attempted to protect the tourists and was killed in the process. The victims included 25 Indian nationals, two locals from Jammu and Kashmir, and one tourist each from Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.
In response, Indian authorities launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators, with security forces releasing sketches of three suspects linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attack led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, a claim Pakistan denies.
But this article is not about the attack, this article is about the broader social implications and the discriminatory responses circulating all over social media.
This attack opened the wormhole of the festering Islamic resentment among the society, this attack has exposed how people were quick to blame one religion as terrorism, this attack pointed out the behind sweet smiles people have twisted stigmas about a particular identity, this attack showed that people whom you thought you knew, whom who considered your friends, but in reality they loathe your very existence. This is about those people who happily buy biriyani for every Eid, but they would publicly humiliate you at every chance if they had no repercussions.
This attack is about people who are “seculars” in name but haters at heart. This attack is about people with whom you shared spaces, and even still do. This attack is about people whom you thought were safe. People you may have even invited to your home, people who are your neighbours. People you invite to your marriage, anniversaries, children’s birthdays other important milestones. People whom you have trusted blindly to keep your house keys in your absence. People whom you considered to be your brothers and sisters. People you consider to be your close confidants. People with whom you shared laughs and tears. People whom you considered to be your kids’ second guardians. People whom you introduced your parents to co-workers, friends, and maybe even lovers. People who you thought were your ride or die. And today, those very people betray.
Classmates who you thought were your close friends mock your identity today. Co-workers you shared lunches with sneer at you. Strangers send you scathing glances because of your burqa. Neighbours whom you trusted with everything today make you question whether it is wise to remain living there. People you knew spread all sorts of hate messages on social media, condemning an entire sect for the actions of a few. Truly, the world is beyond saving now. We humans destroyed our planet, and today, we humans destroy our societies.
According to the census of 2021, currently, India has a literacy rate of 77.70%. Hence, out of 1.484 billion, 1,153,068,000 citizens of India should know that our Preamble states India as a secular country. Yet, Instagram is filled with posts and comments like:
“Terrorism has a religion.”
“Islam - The worst thing in the history of humanity.”
“Not all Muslims, but always a Muslim.”
“Always the Victim card.”
“Indian Muslims are mourning for Palestine, whereas Indian Hindus are not even feeling safe in their own country.”
What happened in Pahalgam was an absolute inhumane act, which showed the sickest, the most vilest people, who are capable of such atrocities. But let this be very clear: those people are terrorists. Their religion doesn’t matter. They are despicable humans who enjoy killing people; religion is just a convenient excuse for them. Today, if religion weren’t applicable, they would make up another cause to spread tragedy. Hence, please don’t blame your countrymen, your own brothers, sisters, classmates, and neighbours, for the action of a small group of people. Just because they share the same religion doesn’t automatically imply that they are all anti-Hindus. Have you ever wondered whether the victims also had friends from different religions? How are they feeling? Just think of it, your friend died a gruesome death, and you can’t even grieve them properly because people accuse you of killing them, just because you had the misfortune of sharing the same religious belief as the assailant.
Our parents have left no stone unturned for us to receive the best education possible. We are blessed to be born in an era where the world is at our fingertips. We have access to all the information. Then is it not the biggest insult to our parents when we let ourselves be manipulated by the Government’s twisted narrative? Instead of focusing on “Muslims”, why don’t we focus on the truth, i.e., “terrorists”? Let us remember, violence has no religion, no gender, and no class. Let us hold the real ones accountable, ask real and the most important questions:
“How did they get in?”
“What will be the future course of action?”
“Is it time for war?”
“What about the victims’ families?”
Let us focus on facts the government has deliberately dodged: how Kashmiri hotel owners, drivers, and horse riders charged zero paisa from the tourists till they reach the airport. What will happen to Kashmiris now, since most of them depend on tourism? Questions about how a border area has no security remain unanswered. How have we forgotten that this is a government that thrives on manipulating people to fulfill its agendas? Have we truly moved past the ‘India’s Got Latent’ Controversy so quickly? Have we forgotten how the government hyped a YouTuber’s crass comment to cover up burning issues? Have we forgotten how Manipur is still burning in civil wars, but is ignored for the bigger picture? Have we forgotten how the real criminals of the R.G. Kar incident are still roaming free? Instead of bringing in more weapons from Israel, strip searching every Kashmiri, treating every Kashmiri as a suspect, sharing AI Ghibli pics of “religion was asked, not caste,” we should hold the government responsible for answering the real issues.
It’s high time to change the tagline from “Wake up, Hindus,” to “Wake up, Indians.”