GUWAHATI: Kashmir’s leading newspapers carried blacked-out front pages on Wednesday, April 23, a coordinated protest following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead and many others injured. Most of the victims were tourists.
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The editorial blackout marked one of the strongest collective responses from the region’s press in recent years. English and Urdu dailies including Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, Aftab, and Taimeel Irshad replaced their usual layouts with stark black backgrounds. Headlines and editorials were printed in white and red.
On the cover of Greater Kashmir, the main headline read “Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving” in bold white lettering. A blood-red subhead followed: “26 killed in deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.”
The symbolic move conveyed a sense of mourning and also raised questions about security infrastructure in areas popular with visitors. The attack has triggered widespread concern over the safety of tourists and the effectiveness of current protective measures.
In response to the killings, several groups—including political parties, religious organisations, civil society bodies, and trade and tourism associations—called for a ‘bandh’. Shops remained closed and streets emptied as public life came to a halt across many parts of the region.
The attack took place in the Baisaran area. Eyewitness accounts described how gunmen, heavily armed, stormed the location and began targeting Hindu tourists after checking their documents and clothing. Survivors said the gunmen fired indiscriminately and showed no mercy, triggering panic and bloodshed.
