NEW DELHI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Local people, including small business owners, shopkeepers, hoteliers, and roadside vendors in the Indian-controlled Kashmir's capital city Srinagar called a strike on Wednesday to condemn Tuesday's killings and express solidarity with the deceased's families.
As many as 26 people, mostly tourists hailing from various Indian states, were killed in Pahalgam area, around 100 km from Srinagar, and some were injured in the attack.
This was described as one of the biggest attacks on tourists in decades in the Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Following the killings, security arrangements have been beefed up across Srinagar and nearby tourist spots.
Pervaiz Ahmed, who runs a houseboat in Srinagar's famous Dal Lake, told Xinhua, "We, the locals of Srinagar, are observing a strike from work today to condemn the brutal killings in Baisaran yesterday. We offer our condolences."
Meanwhile, a considerable drop in the number of tourists was witnessed in Srinagar and nearby areas in the aftermath of the killings.
Musthtaq Chaya, president of Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, told Xinhua over the phone that it was quite unfortunate to witness that innocent people were targeted and mercilessly killed, and now tourists were withdrawing from Srinagar and nearby places.
"We condemn the attack on innocent people who had come here as tourists. Locals here thrive on incomes generated from tourism. Now, I see that tourism here will be adversely affected in the coming years. The locals will face financial losses," said Chaya, who runs a chain of hotels in Srinagar and other places in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. ■
