'Not in name of Kashmir': Black newspapers, massive protests mark defiance as locals put up brave face after Pahalgam horror

The horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, aimed at deterring tourists and investments in the Union Territory, may have left everyone in shock and outrage but was also met with firm defiance from the locals who are determined to uphold normalcy in the Valley.

People from across Kashmir poured into the streets in towns and villages to express their anger and condemn the deadly attack, which left 26 people dead on Tuesday.

Citizens of the Valley expressed anguish at the attack on the tourists, saying the perpetrators were hitting at the foundation of J&K's economy.

"This should not happen -- not in the name of Kashmir and not in the name of Islam. Islamic teachings value human life to the point that taking an innocent life is akin to killing entire humanity," Haji Bashir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Srinagar city, told PTI.

Notably, some south Kashmir districts also saw protests with locals swarming the streets to denounce the attack. PTI reported that some of these districts had seen protests in 2016 following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.

In Kulgam, G M Banday, a fruit grower, said the government should take steps to eradicate the menace of terrorism so that incidents like the Baisaran attack in Pahalgam do not recur.

"Steps should be taken to uproot terrorism at the earliest so that such incidents do not happen again... people of Kashmir have always been against terrorism. However, conspiracies are being hatched to malign the Kashmiri community and hit the local economy. Such acts affect the livelihood of the local youth," Banday told PTI.

He said that the locals are with the government in whatever steps they take to eradicate terror.

Mohammad Iqbal, a trader from Kulgam, told PTI that the attack was aimed at crippling the economy of Kashmir.

"Our innocent brothers and sisters who had come to visit Kashmir were targeted. Every Kashmiri is sad over the killings, which should not have taken place. Our trade is linked to tourism, and if tourist arrivals drop, it will hit the local economy. The local trade has been in doldrums for the past few years," he said.

Tauseef Ahmad War, a social activist, was among the protesters in Handwara town of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.

"We are protesting here to send a message to the world that Kashmiris are not with terrorism, we condemn the attack on tourists in Pahalgam," he said.

Members of the Pahalgam Taxi Owners Association also staged a protest against the terror attack

Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said the perpetrators of the attack were neither the adherents of Islam nor the well-wishers of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Whoever did this, they neither belong to our religion nor to the people of J&K. The people of J&K are saying that such acts of terror should not be done in our name or in the name of our religion. We hope that the perpetrators are brought to justice soon," the National Conference leader said.

Newspapers go black

In another powerful symbol of protests, the leading newspapers in the Valley printed their front pages black on Wednesday to protest the dastardly terrorist attack.

The strong act of protest by the newspapers, each bearing powerful headlines in white or red, was a powerful public display of solidarity and grief, symbolising the collective sorrow felt by the residents and the media over the inhuman act.

The change in format by leading English and Urdu dailies, including Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, Aftab and Taimeel Irshad, serves as a stark reminder of the violence that has plagued the region for decades.

"Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving", screamed the headline of leading English daily Greater Kashmir in white on a black layout, followed by the subhead "26 killed in deadly terror attack in Pahalgam" in red.

The paper's front-page editorial with the headline "The massacre in the meadow - Protect Kashmir’s soul" said the attack has cast a dark shadow over J&K, a region striving to reclaim its legacy as a "Paradise on Earth".

"This heinous act is not merely an assault on innocent lives but a deliberate blow to Kashmir's identity and values -- its hospitality, its economy, and its fragile peace. Kashmir's soul stands in unequivocal condemnation of this brutality and offers heartfelt condolences to the victims' families, who sought beauty but found tragedy," the editorial said.