New Delhi/Srinagar, Apr 27: Terrorists and their backers carried out the Pahalgam attack to destroy Kashmir again as they did not like the return of peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday and vowed the “harshest” response to the “perpetrators and conspirators”.
As the prime minister, in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, spoke of a “decisive battle” against terrorism, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir razed more houses of terrorists and rounded up their sympathisers in a stepped-up crackdown on terror ecosystem after the Pakistan-linked ultras on Tuesday shot dead 26 people, mostly tourists, in cold blood.
As the tensions between the two countries soared, the Pakistani military engaged in unprovoked firing along the Line of Control in the areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur sectors for the third consecutive night, military sources said.
The Pakistan military was engaged in similar firing on Thursday and Friday nights as well. “Our troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,” said an Indian official.
While the Pakistan military has been put on high alert following India’s promise that it will hunt down those involved in the April 22 strike, the Indian Navy on Sunday said its warships have successfully carried out multiple anti-ship firings, revalidating their readiness for long-range precision “offensive” strikes.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “perpetrators and conspirators” of the Pahalgam attack will be “served with the harshest response”.
“The whole world stands with 140 crore Indians in our fight against terrorism. I once again assure the affected families that they will get justice, and justice will be done,” Modi said in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address.
The prime minister said the attack in the famous tourist town in Kashmir reflected the desperation and cowardice of the patrons of terrorism, a reference to Pakistan, at a time when peace was returning to the Valley.
He said there was vibrancy in its schools and colleges construction work had gained unprecedented pace, democracy was getting stronger, the number of tourists was increasing at a record rate, people’s income was increasing, and new opportunities were being created for the youth.
Modi said, “Enemies of the country, the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir did not like that. Terrorists and the masterminds of terror want Kashmir to be destroyed again and hence they executed such a big conspiracy.”
“In this war against terrorism, the unity of the nation, the solidarity of 140 crore Indians, is our greatest strength. This very unity is the foundation of our decisive battle against terrorism,” he said.
Modi said, “I can feel that the blood of every Indian is on the boil after seeing the pictures of the terrorist attack.” The prime minister said the attack has drawn condemnation from the whole world, noting that international leaders have called him up, written letters and sent messages.
As part of the anti-terror crackdown that picked up more steam after the Pahalgam attack, authorities have demolished the houses of three more alleged active terrorists in Bandipora, Pulwama and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir. With this, nine houses of suspected terrorists and overground workers of terror outfits have been razed so far since the April 22 attack in Baisaran.
Security forces have raided more than 500 locations in the Valley in just five days and grilled hundreds of suspects.
Political parties in J-K urged the Centre to ensure that innocent people are not targeted while it goes after terrorists. (PTI)
