Don't demoralise our forces: Supreme Court rejects plea seeking judicial probe into Pahalgam terror attack

A top court bench headed by Justice Surya Kant dismissed the plea and slammed petitioner Hatesh Kumar Sahu for acting "irresponsibly".

"This is a crucial hour when each and every citizen of the country has joined hands to fight terrorism. Don’t demoralise our forces by filing such petitions," the Supreme Court bench said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

After Sahu, an advocate, clarified he didn't intend to demoralise the forces, the bench said, "You owe a responsibility to the country. And this is the way you choose to demoralise our forces?"

"Since when have retired Supreme Court and high court judges become experts in investigating cases? You have requested that a former judge of this court should investigate the incident. Judges decide disputes before them. Since when have they gained the expertise to investigate?"

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre, said such pleas should not reach the courtroom.

Pahalgam attack and its repercussions

On April 22, 2025, the terrorists- belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)- asked the victims to chant Islamic verses (kalma) and made them pull down their pants to be sure of their their non-Muslim religious identities (read circumcision)  before gunning them down before their families, including wives, children and daughters.

The massacre triggered nationwide outrage and escalated India-Pakistan tensions as New Delhi vowed to avenge the killings.

In an immediate response, India suspended the landmark Indus River water-sharing treaty and closed the Attari-Wagah road border, which acts as a lifeline of Indo-Pak trade and people-to-people ties, besides expelling diplomats, downsizing high commissions, and issuing a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani visa holders present in India to leave.

Modi gives full freedom to Indian military

Modi has given the armed forces 'complete freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing' of India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack which was targeted at Hindus.

Modi took the decision on Tuesday at a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that it is 'our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism' and that he has 'complete faith and confidence' in the Indian military.

After the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, India conducted precision air strikes on terrorist camps in Balakot in Pakistan. The camps were run by banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed with the help from the Pak Army.