New Delhi, May 5: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking enhanced safety and security measures for tourists in hilly areas and remote destinations, filed in the aftermath of the deadly April 22 terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed lives of 26 civilians.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh rapped advocate Vishal Tiwari, appearing in person, for filing “purported PILs” aimed at gaining publicity.

“Mr. Tiwari, last time also, we advised you. What is your purpose and motive? Who is inciting you to file this kind of PIL? You don’t understand any sensitivity? You don’t realise your responsibility? I think you are inviting some order with exemplary cost,” the bench said.

The PIL litigant submitted that he was not seeking any direction against the government, and the plea was limited to raising safety concerns of tourists in hilly areas and remote destinations.

However, the Justice Surya Kant-led Bench remained unconvinced and dismissed the petition, saying that advocate Tiwari was engaging in “one or the other purported PILs which are primarily aimed to gain publicity with no intent to serve public cause”.

The PIL said that there exists a lack of safety programmes and guidelines for tourists and the general public on how to save themselves when there is a terrorist attack, how to get immediate help, and how to hide themselves when attacked.

It added that tourists in Pahalgam were an easy target for the terrorists as those innocent people were unarmed and without any security.

“It is for the first time that the tourists have been targeted and in such large numbers they have been killed and injured. Now it has raised the question of safety and security of the people of the country who visit as tourists, mostly in hilly areas and valleys like Jammu and Kashmir,” the plea said.

“Recent terrorist attacks have raised questions of the security of tourists visiting such remote places. In urban areas, it is difficult to attack as there is regular movement of police forces, but tourist destinations are geographically different, where people can be targeted easily,” it added.

The PIL stressed that the Centre and State governments will have to take steps to deploy adequate security for the tourists who visit remote hilly areas and valleys, especially during the summer season. “The VIPs always remain under protection throughout the clock in our country. When they pass, roads are blocked for citizens. A lot of security personnel are deployed in their security, but the common people always suffer,” it further said.

The top court had recently declined to entertain a plea seeking the formation of a probe panel headed by a retired apex court judge to investigate the deadly Pahalgam attack.

Slamming the PIL litigant, the Justice Surya Kant-led Bench said that it would not entertain any plea which could demoralise the country’s armed forces.

“Be responsible before filing such a PIL. Since when have retired High Court or Supreme Court judges become experts in investigation? Since when have we (judges) gained the expertise of investigation? We only decide disputes. Please do not ask for these prayers (for investigation under supervision of a retired SC judge),” the apex court said.

“This is the crucial hour when each and every citizen of the country has joined hands to fight terrorism. Don’t make any prayers which could demoralise our forces. It is not acceptable to us! Look at the sensitivity of the issue,” it added.

Jammu, May 5: For the 11th consecutive day on Monday, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing on the Indian positions on the Jammu and Kashmir Line of Control (LoC) as the Indian troops responded promptly and proportionately.

The Defence Ministry statement said, “During the night of 04 -05 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K.”

“Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” said the ministry in the statement.

During the night of May 3 and May 4, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K.

The Indian Army had responded promptly and proportionately.

Tensions have reached a new high between the two countries after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists sponsored and aided by Pakistan killed 26 innocent civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

The entire country was outraged by the cowardly act of terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his first reaction to Pahalgam killings that the terrorists, their handlers and backers would he chased and hunted down to the ends of the earth.

India announced a slew of measures against Pakistan, including the deportation of its nationals from Indian soil, the closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing, throwing the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance, closing its airspace for Pakistani commercial flights, and the cancellation of all trade and cultural exchange between the two countries.

PM Modi has given operational freedom to the armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam killings.

This decision came after the PM met the defence minister, national security advisor, chief of defence staff (CDS), and chiefs of the army, navy and the Air Force.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a 40-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister on April 28.

The defence minister met the PM after he received a detailed briefing by the CDS on the preparedness of the country’s armed forces to meet any eventuality.

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also had a security review meeting with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Srinagar a few days ago.

The L-G asked the Army to use whatever force is required to hunt down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Meanwhile, to send a powerful message to terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers, security forces demolished the houses of terrorists.

On April 25, two houses belonging to Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh were demolished in the Tral and Bijbehara areas. Both these terrorists were part of the LeT group involved in the Pahalgam killings.

Security forces have so far demolished the houses of 10 terrorists, who are reportedly still active in the Kashmir Valley.

On April 28, the J&K Assembly unanimously condemned the dastardly terrorist attack and passed a resolution on this.

New Delhi, May 3: The Centre on Saturday announced to suspend exchange of inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan via air and surface routes, after banning all imports and barring Pakistani-flagged vessels from entering the ports earlier in the day.

In a notification, the Ministry of Communications announced the suspension of mails and parcels from the neighbouring country, in the wake of the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

“The Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes,” read the notification.

India earlier banned all imports — direct and indirect — from Pakistan amid rising tensions.

According to a notification by the Commerce Ministry, “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.”

“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India,” said the notification.

Later, New Delhi barred Pakistan-flagged ships from entering any of its ports.

According to a directive from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Pakistan-flagged ships have been banned from entering Indian ports. The directive also prohibited India-flagged vessels from docking at ports in Pakistan.

Citing national security concerns, the directive was implemented to “ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and related infrastructure, in public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping.” The directive is effective immediately and will remain in force until further notice.

“The objective of the Act is to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve national interests,” the order issued by the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reaffirmed India’s unwavering resolve to act decisively against terrorism and those who support it.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi stated, “We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their sympathies to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.”

“We are committed to taking firm and decisive actions against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for its support in our fight against terrorism,” the Prime Minister added.