Guwahati, April 23: Strong condemnation has poured in from Assam’s civil society groups and prominent Muslim organisations following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that claimed at least 27 lives and left many more critically injured.
In a joint statement, Axom Nagarik Samaj president Ajit Kumar Bhuyan and general secretary Paresh Malakar called the attack “dastardly and gruesome” and slammed it as a clear attempt to derail peace in the Kashmir Valley. “Our sympathies go to all the bereaved families and affected people. This deserves universal condemnation,” they said.
Bhuyan and Malakar questioned the narrative around terrorism in the region, raising critical questions about the broader network behind such attacks. “Are the sponsors of terror only across the borders, or are there domestic forces aiding them as well? This needs a thorough probe,” the statement added, sharply criticizing the Centre’s claims that peace had returned to Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370.
“Despite the tall claims, terror attacks continue unabated. The Centre’s current measures seem ineffective in curbing the crisis. While there must be zero tolerance towards terrorists, efforts to disconnect them from local populations must be genuine,” they said.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president and former MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal also condemned the attack, calling it “inhuman and barbaric.” Ajmal, who also heads the Assam State Jamiat Ulama, emphasized that the massacre was not just an act of terror but “a direct assault on human values and national harmony.”
He urged the Union government to act swiftly and decisively. “Every hand behind this massacre—individual or nation—must be brought to justice. This evil cannot be allowed to repeat,” he said. Ajmal extended his condolences to the victims’ families and reiterated AIUDF’s commitment to national unity and peace.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Students’ Union of Assam (MSUA) took a more hardline stance, calling the Pahalgam attack a direct failure of India’s Home and Defence ministries. MSUA president Jalal Uddin said, “Indians are not safe in their own country. This is unacceptable.”
He blamed Pakistan for backing militants and went a step further by suggesting a potential war response if necessary. “We cannot allow our brothers to be killed by terrorists in the name of Islam. Our forefathers did not support Jinnah during Partition, and we reject this bloodshed in the name of religion,” Uddin said.
MSUA announced plans to organize candlelight marches across Assam to honour the victims and vowed public support for any strong action taken by the Indian government.
All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) also condemned the terror attack and staged a protest against it on Wednesday.
