Shaken by the brutality of the Pahalgam massacre, ordinary Indians have united in grief and rage. Candlelight vigils, protest marches, and online campaigns have erupted across cities, with many demanding concrete action from the government.
By PC Bureau | New Delhi | April 22, 2025
India is reeling from shock, anger, and grief after the Pahalgam terror attack on Sunday that left 26 civilians, including tourists, brutally killed. The massacre, which took place in the popular tourist town in South Kashmir, has sparked an unprecedented wave of protests, emotional vigils, and rising calls for action from all corners of the country.
As details emerged of how the gunmen selectively targeted Hindu men — sparing women and children — the incident has not only devastated families but also shaken the public conscience. Heart-wrenching testimonies, including that of Pallavi from Shivamogga, who watched her husband shot dead, have united the country in outrage.
India’s Streets Erupt in Protest: “Enough is Enough!”
From Lucknow to Ludhiana, Chennai to Chandigarh, cities and towns witnessed spontaneous protests, candlelight vigils, and marches late Sunday night and through Monday.
In Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, hundreds gathered holding candles and posters that read “India Will Never Forget Pahalgam” and “Terrorism Has No Religion, But This Has a Pattern.”
In Delhi’s Connaught Place, chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Pakistan Murdabad” echoed late into the night. Local vendors joined tech professionals, homemakers, and college students in a mass show of solidarity.
ALSO READ: India Poised for Retaliation Against Pak-Based Terror Networks
“I don’t know the victims personally. But when I heard a mother say she begged to be killed with her husband, my blood boiled,” said 24-year-old Anjali Singh, who attended the vigil at India Gate with her friends.
#PulwamaAttack
I Strongly condemn attack on Pahalgam pilgrims & tourists & express condolences & pray to God to give strength to the families
People in Handwara take out candle march 🕯️ to condemn the terror attack
They checked his 🪪
Pull down his trousers & shot pointblank pic.twitter.com/7AZudeL3d4— 💝🌹💖🇮🇳jaggirmRanbir🇮🇳💖🌹💝 (@jaggirm) April 23, 2025
In Shivamogga, Karnataka — hometown of victim Manjunath — thousands gathered in silence before taking to the streets in protest. Youth groups demanded a state funeral and action against those responsible.
In Bhopal, autorickshaw drivers wore black bands in protest, and shopkeepers voluntarily shut their stores for an hour in mourning.
Cry for Revenge Resounds Amid Nationwide Outrage Over Pahalgam Terror Attack
Voices from the Ground: Fear, Anger, and Sorrow
Across India, ordinary citizens expressed a mix of deep sorrow and rising rage.
Ramesh Choudhary, a retired schoolteacher in Jaipur, said, “We light candles after every attack. But what changes? Why do innocent people keep dying while the killers hide across the border?”
Farzana Ahmed, a homemaker in Srinagar’s downtown area, condemned the attack. “This is not Islam. This is murder. These men are not martyrs; they are cowards. Kashmiriyat doesn’t allow such bloodshed.”
Sunita Verma, whose niece was honeymooning in Kashmir but survived the attack, said she now feels she can never trust that the Valley is safe. “It’s not about tourism. It’s about being seen as soft targets just because of our religion.”
ALSO READ: “Tell Modi”: Pallavi Recounts Chilling Words of Terrorist After Pahalgam Attack
In Kolkata, cab driver Imran Hussain said he wept when he heard the news. “A terrorist has no religion. I’m a Muslim. I’m an Indian. And this bloodshed is not in my name.”
Social media was also flooded with images of people lighting diyas, praying in churches, mosques, and temples, and uniting under hashtags like #PahalgamMassacre, #IndiaUnited, and #JusticeForVictims.
Political and Administrative Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned from Saudi Arabia early Monday morning, chaired an emergency National Security Council meeting. Sources say military and diplomatic options are under active consideration.
Modi condemned the killings as “a barbaric act against humanity”, adding that “the nation’s resolve to uproot terrorism from its soil and beyond is stronger than ever.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who flew to Kashmir Sunday night, held high-level meetings with the J&K administration, intelligence officials, and Army commanders.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha vowed swift justice:
“I’ve spoken to the Director General of Police and other senior officials. Directed the district administration and health officials to ensure immediate medical attention for the injured. One tourist has been evacuated to GMC Anantnag. We will hunt down those behind this despicable act.”
Calls for Retaliation: “Strike Their Camps, Show Our Strength”
Former armed forces officials and security experts are calling for decisive retaliation.
General (Retd.) Satish Dua, former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, said:
“Pakistan cannot play the victim card anymore. There is enough evidence these terrorists operate from Pakistani soil. India must strike at terror launchpads, just like Balakot.”
Public anger is also mounting on this front. Across multiple protests, citizens held posters demanding action:
“A tooth for a tooth. A life for a life.”
“Terrorist camps must burn.”
Survivors’ Plea: “Let My Husband’s Body Return With Me”
The face of this tragedy remains Pallavi, the woman from Shivamogga who witnessed her husband, Manjunath, being shot dead.
“I held my husband’s head in my lap. My son begged the terrorist to kill him too. The gunman looked at us and said, ‘Nahin marenge. Modi ko jaake bolo’.”
Her plea to authorities is heartbreaking:
“I will not return to Shivamogga alone. I will only go home with my husband’s body. All three of us should return together.”
Her story has moved the nation, becoming a symbol of collective trauma and resilience.
The Nation Grieves, But It Also Stands United
India has been here before — Mumbai 2008, Pulwama 2019 — but something about the Pahalgam attack has pierced deeper. Perhaps it’s the targeting of tourists. Perhaps it’s the defiance of the survivors. Or perhaps it’s the sense that, this time, the people will not be pacified by promises alone.
In a country divided by politics, language, caste, and religion, this terror attack has reminded India of its shared humanity and collective will. As one protestor’s placard read:
“We may cry tonight. But tomorrow, we fight back — together.”
