Tourist’s video from Kashmir counters hate narrative after Pahalgam attack
Pahalgam, Kashmir: At a time when fear and anger gripped the nation after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a video recorded by a young woman from Maharashtra is going viral reminding India that brotherhood still exists, even in the face of terror.
The video was shared by Pooja Jadhav, a tourist from Beed in Maharashtra, who was visiting Kashmir when militants opened fire on a group of travellers in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley on Tuesday. At least 28 people, including tourists and locals, were killed in the ambush.
But amidst this tragedy, Pooja’s voice is standing out—not in panic, but in calm reassurance.
In her now-viral video, Pooja speaks directly to those watching: “I am a Hindu. And I’ve been in Kashmir since morning. Let me tell you, the Muslims here are with us. They’ve stood beside us, shoulder to shoulder. No one asked me what my religion is. No one threatened us.”
She slammed sections of the media, especially mainstream TV channels, for suggesting that Hindus were being targeted in Kashmir. “The attackers want to scare people away from Kashmir. But the people of Kashmir—Hindu or Muslim—want us here. They are helping us, protecting us.”
Pooja shared how her family back home in Maharashtra panicked after hearing the news and couldn’t reach her on the phone. “Network is a problem here. We had to take a local SIM card. People back home were scared. But our driver, a local brother, told us, ‘We will die before we let anything happen to you.’ This is brotherhood. This is the real India.”
Her words, raw and emotional, have struck a chord with viewers across the country. Many have shared the video, saying it restored their faith in communal harmony.
The attack itself, according to police reports, was carried out by militants believed to be from The Resistance Front, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Tourists from several states and even a few foreign nationals were among the dead. The government has launched a high-level probe, and sketches of suspects have been released. Security has been intensified in and around Pahalgam.
“There is no Hindu-Muslim here. We are all humans,” she says in her video. “Let humanity live. Let us not divide this beautiful land with hate.”
Several Kashmiri locals have also come forward to express their anger against the attackers and sorrow for the loss of innocent lives. “Tourists are our guests. They are like our family. Whoever did this has no religion, no soul,” said Irfan Dar, a pony guide in Pahalgam.
And The Reality Is.....
— তন্ময় l T͞anmoy l (@tanmoyofc) April 23, 2025
Pooja Jadhav, a woman from Maharashtra, visited Kashmir and is Exposing the Agenda of Godi Media.#PahalgamTerroristAttack #PahalgamTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/omY7XIH6FJ
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
