Veteran actor Anupam Kher has issued a powerful appeal for decisive action following the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and many more injured. In a heartfelt video shared on social media Tuesday night, Kher, a Kashmiri Pandit and vocal advocate for justice in Kashmir, condemned the brutality and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the culprits face the harshest possible punishment.
“There should be no mercy. Let this punishment be so severe that it deters such cowards for the next seven lifetimes,” Kher said, his voice laden with grief and rage. Describing the massacre as "barbaric beyond words," Kher said initial reports suggested the victims were singled out based on their religion before being shot at point-blank range, a chilling echo of the past for the actor, who has long spoken about the persecution of Kashmiri Pandits.
“The Kashmir Files was just a glimpse,” Kher said, referring to his 2022 film. “Many dismissed it as propaganda, but what happened in Pahalgam shows that the reality is far worse. This time, innocent tourists, people who came from across the country to enjoy the beauty of Kashmir, were hunted down after being identified.”
Kher expressed deep sorrow over viral images from the aftermath, particularly one showing a woman seated beside her husband’s lifeless body. He recounted the account of Pallavi, a survivor who reportedly begged the attackers to kill her too, only to be told to “pass on the message.”
“I cannot erase that image from my mind,” he said. “What kind of monsters commit such acts?” The targeted firing took place at a popular tourist spot in Baisaran Valley, where visitors had gathered to enjoy the scenic landscape. The attack has been claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Kher, who described the killings as a “massacre of Hindus,” made a direct appeal to India’s leadership. “I fold my hands and request PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah — this time, let the response be unforgettable. Let justice roar loud and clear.”
In response to the attack, Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kashmir to review the situation, while PM Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit and immediately held a high-level meeting with NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Kher concluded his message with a plea for national unity, stating that such tragedies must be condemned by every Indian, not just for those lost, but for the soul of the nation.
