Tue May 06 17:02:33 UTC 2025: ## CRPF Officer Faces Inquiry After Pahalgam Massacre Response
**Srinagar, May 6, 2025** – The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has launched an inquiry into the response to the April 22nd terrorist attack in Pahalgam, south Kashmir, which left 26 dead. The investigation centers on Commandant Rajesh Kumar of the 116th battalion, the first security personnel to reach the Baisaran meadow where the massacre occurred.
Commandant Kumar, along with a 22-person team, arrived at the scene approximately an hour after the attack, rescuing several injured victims. Eyewitness accounts and survivors, however, claim security forces arrived over an hour after the terrorists, estimated to be four to six in number, had fled the scene after a 25-30 minute presence.
The CRPF’s Director General, G.P. Singh, has requested an explanation from Commandant Kumar regarding the precautions taken to secure the route to the meadow. The CRPF acknowledges that there is no permanent security presence at Baisaran, which is accessible only by foot or pony, and that tourists frequent the area, particularly during the Amarnath Yatra (July 3rd – August 9th).
An all-party meeting revealed that Baisaran meadow was opened to the public without police permission, despite being accessible year-round. A Jammu and Kashmir official confirmed that the meadow was not designated as a regulated security zone. A private contract to manage the tourist site was awarded in August 2024. The CRPF operates under the unified command structure in Jammu and Kashmir, working in conjunction with the Jammu and Kashmir police. The investigation’s outcome will determine future actions.
First Piper 