J&K Hoteliers’ Club, CCIK, Shehri Khass Traders & Chambers also call for Kashmir Bandh on Wednesday

Srinagar — A protest shutdown has also been announced by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK), Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC), all tourist travel associations, restaurant owners, transporters, and other trade and civil society groups. “We have called for a Kashmir Bandh on Wednesday against this barbaric act of violence,” said Tariq Rashid Ghani, President of CCIK. “This is a collective expression of grief and condemnation.”

Ghani noted that the attack is a direct assault on Kashmir’s tradition of hospitality and peaceful coexistence and appears aimed at destabilising the region’s fast-recovering tourism sector. The Bandh will see the closure of businesses, transport services, and hospitality establishments across the Valley.

The deadly assault took place in the scenic Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, Anantnag district, where unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists. The attack, one of the deadliest in recent years targeting civilians, has drawn widespread condemnation and left the tourism-dependent region reeling.

Supporting the Bandh, Shahre Khass Traders and Chambers issued a statement condemning the violence and calling on the business community to unite in mourning and protest. “Such tragic incidents, especially targeting tourists, not only shake our conscience but threaten the local economy and the image of Kashmir as a place of warmth and hospitality,” read the statement.

The group emphasized the importance of sending a strong, united message against terrorism, while supporting all measures aimed at restoring peace and ensuring justice. “We stand with the victims and demand that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice,” they added.

A joint press conference by the Valley’s trade and tourism bodies is scheduled for Wednesday at the Radisson Collection Hotel in Srinagar to outline further steps and highlight the collective response of the business community.