Eighty-two kilometres from Srinagar, in a now-deserted tourist hub, local shopkeepers watch viral videos in silence. These clips, filmed by influencers like B Boys (with over 2 million subscribers), pressure Kashmiris to condemn a recent terror attack that killed 25 Hindu tourists and one Muslim. The confrontational content, seen by millions, paints locals as complicit, sparking online hate.
A week prior, Pahalgam was bustling. Post-attack, the town is empty, and fear looms. Social media influencers and sections of the national media descended on the Valley, filming aggressive street interviews. Many locals say they were coerced to speak and misrepresented. Nisar Ahmad, a salesman, called the coverage propaganda, fueling mistrust and alienation. Others, like hotelier Arafat Ahmad, said even tourists panicked due to the media’s portrayal.
False claims—like a video misidentified as the slain Navy officer’s last moments—went viral, spreading misinformation. Influencers called for boycotts of Kashmir tourism, and some social media users made Islamophobic statements. Protesters in Srinagar have begun confronting biased media.
Media critics say this is no accident. Experts like Raqib Naik and Anuradha Bhasin argue that an orchestrated network of hate, driven by far-right groups, is manipulating the narrative. Survivors and locals who helped victims are ignored, while inflammatory voices dominate.
The Parliamentary IT Committee has raised concerns about such online hate and urged prompt government intervention. But critics claim the government is complicit, leveraging media narratives to dodge scrutiny and stoke division.
Read also: