Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pays Tribute to Terror Attack Victim as Government Condemns Incident

On April 24, Odisha's Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo paid his respects to Prashant Satapathy, who lost his life in the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to visit Satapathy's native village the following morning to connect with the local community. During his tribute, Deo condemned the attack, emphasizing that such violence is unacceptable in a civilized society and called for a strong response to these heinous acts.

The Deputy Chief Minister reported on the arrival of Satapathy's remains at Bhubaneshwar airport and detailed the arrangements made by the government to facilitate their return to his village. He expressed confidence that both the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister would take decisive actions against those responsible for the attack. Furthermore, he outlined the outcomes of a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security that led to crucial resolutions, including expelling Pakistani nationals from India and recalling Indian officials from Pakistan.

BJP leader Pratap Keshari Deb also spoke out against the attack, describing it as highly unfortunate and stressing the need for stringent action from the government. He warned against complacency regarding peace in Kashmir, noting that anti-India sentiments persist, and emphasized the alarming trend of targeting tourists, which he tied to broader international terror influences. The attack has claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including 25 Indians and one Nepali, marking one of the deadliest incidents since the 2019 Pulwama attack, signaling an escalation in regional terrorism concerns post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

In response to the attack, India announced multiple measures aimed at conveying a serious message to Pakistan regarding its role in supporting cross-border terrorism. This includes holding the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance and immediately closing the integrated checkpost at Attari. The Cabinet Committee on Security also barred Pakistani nationals from traveling to India under the SAARC exemption scheme, showcasing the government's determination to address the ongoing security challenges posed by terrorism.