Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) [India], April 23 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, calling it not only an attack on innocent lives but also a direct assault on India's culture, peace, and humanity.

In his speech at the 'Rajkiya Kranti Diwas' fair in Pithsain on Wednesday, CM Dhami said, 'Yesterday evening, terrorists launched a cowardly attack and shot unarmed tourists. I pay my tributes to all those who lost their lives in that incident.'

'No amount of condemnation is enough. I want to tell the terrorists--this is the new India. The Indian Army will definitely eliminate the demons who carried out this act.', he added.

Earlier in the day, a solemn two-minute silence was observed during a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister's residence, as a mark of respect to the victims of the heinous attack.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Dhami had said, 'On behalf of the people of Uttarakhand, I express my deepest sympathy to the bereaved families. This was not just a massacre of innocent tourists--it was an attack on the soul of our nation. Their aim is to disrupt the peace in Jammu and Kashmir, but they will never succeed.'

The Chief Minister condemned the killing of Hindu tourists and called the act a reflection of a 'jihadist mindset.' He affirmed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Army would launch a decisive and targeted response.

'This is a tragic day. The way Hindu tourists were deliberately targeted in Pahalgam exposes the radical motives behind the attack. I pay my respects to the victims and pray for their souls. I am confident that every single one of the terrorists responsible will be brought to justice,' he said.

Dhami also confirmed that all state officials have been instructed to remain in close contact with the affected families and take every possible measure to ensure the safe return and support of all individuals from Uttarakhand currently in the region.

In the aftermath of the tragic terror attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday reviewed the security situation at the site of the terror attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow. The Union Minister took an aerial stock of the region as he arrived at the site by helicopter, having descended onto the meadow earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the Pahalgam terror attack site to support the Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) Police in probing the attack. It was one of the biggest terror attacks in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. (ANI)