Srinagar, April 23 — A day after the Pahalgam attack left 26 men dead, The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed the victims were not tourists but people affiliated with Indian security agencies.
“These were not ordinary tourists,” the group said in a fresh statement on Wednesday.
“It was not a typical tourist group, but rather an undercover agency tasked with research.” TRF further warned it would escalate its operations across the region.
“This should serve as a wake-up call not only for Delhi but also for those who support Delhi’s questionable strategies,” the group said.
The group also warned people in Kashmir to stay away from public places and asked Kashmiri students studying in Indian cities to return to the Valley.
The government of India has not issued a formal response to the claims. However, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh vowed retaliation in an earlier statement.
“Those responsible for the Pahalgam attack will face consequences,” he said.
The Cabinet Committee meeting on Security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is currently underway meeting to assess the situation and outline military and diplomatic steps.
Earlier, TRF said Indian citizens
posing as tourists were securing domicile certificates in Kashmir, describing it as part of what they call an illegal settlement drive.
The Ministry of Home Affairs banned TRF in January 2023 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. The group has been accused of major attacks on civilians including Kashmiri Pandits and non-local laborers.