Srinagar/IBNS: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Pahalgam terror attack hollowed people from the core as the nation is still grieving over the death of 26 tourists.

Speaking in the legislative assembly, Abdullah said, "From North to South and East to West, this attack has affected the entire country. We have witnessed several such attacks in the past but an attack of such a large scale happened after 21 years in Baisaran."

"I had no clue how to apologise to the families of the victims. Though the police and administration are not under the local government, it was my responsibility as the Chief Minister to ensure their safe return from Jammu and Kashmir. I couldn't do it. I have no words to apologise.

"None of us supports this attack which has hollowed us from the core. We are trying to find a ray of light even in this situation. But in 26 years, I have never seen common people of Jammu and Kashmir coming out to protest against an attack like they did this time," the Chief Minister, who assumed the top post in October last year, added.

Pahalgam terror attack

Twenty-six tourists, all men, died after terrorists identified them as non-Muslims and gunned them down in Baisaran meadows, a popular destination in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.

The terrorists reportedly asked the victims to chant Islamic verse, pull down their pants to check circumcision in a bid to confirm their Hindu identities before gunning them down.

Modi declares war on terrorism

The terror attack, which has drawn widespread condemnation from the world leaders, has led India and its arch-rival Pakistan to a fresh confrontation, a major one since the Pulwama terror attack which was backed by Pakistan-based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in 2019.

After several diplomatic strikes on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week promised a retaliation and said the terrorists and their backers will pay unimaginable costs for the attack on innocent tourists.

Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani, the Prime Minister significantly switched to English and said: "From the soil of Bihar I tell the whole world that India will identify them and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the end of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished."