Hyderabad Man, IB Officer, Shot Dead in Kashmir Terror Attack
Hyderabad IB officer Manish Ranjan was killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that left 28 tourists dead. His family survived the assault.
image for illustrative purpose
An Intelligence Bureau official stationed in Hyderabad was among the victims in a deadly terrorist assault on tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
Manish Ranjan, originally from Bihar, was visiting Kashmir with his family on a sanctioned Leave Travel Concession. The attack unfolded as they were touring the region. Ranjan, who had worked in the ministerial unit of the IB's Hyderabad division for two years, succumbed to gunfire in front of his wife and children. Officials confirmed that his family members survived, though their condition is still being assessed.
The Pahalgam incident marked the deadliest strike on tourists in Kashmir since the 1990s. At least 28 visitors were killed, and several others sustained injuries when assailants opened fire in a meadow frequented by vacationers.
The Resistance Front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and supported by Pakistan's ISI, has claimed responsibility. Security agencies suggest the timing of the attack was deliberate, occurring during U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to India and coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia.
Military intelligence highlights that the assault followed recent inflammatory remarks by Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir, who reiterated the military's position on cross-border activities.
The strike resembled earlier incidents intended to attract global attention to the Kashmir conflict. Analysts note that this approach mirrors past tactics, including the 2000 Chittisinghpora massacre, carried out shortly before a high-level U.S. state visit.
This attack comes after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 and is seen as part of ongoing efforts by Pakistani-backed groups to destabilize the region and undermine security confidence among travelers.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation and intensified patrols across key tourist zones. Intelligence units are monitoring cross-border communications for further threat indicators. Meanwhile, officials are prioritizing aid and support for survivors and the families of those killed.
