Army gives limited permission for grounded ALH Dhruv choppers for counter-terror ops

SRINAGAR: Amid heightened tensions and security concerns over the killings of tourists in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Indian Army has allowed limited operations of its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv choppers in Srinagar and adjoining affected areas.

The choppers have been allowed to fly in view of the ongoing counter-terror operations, defence officials said. The ALH Dhruv choppers have been grounded for over two months after a crash involving Indian Coast Guard officers in Porbandar. The grounding of the choppers has affected the troop movement in the counter-terror operations.

However, they have been given limited permission in the valley in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack to operate. The ALH Dhruv is the backbone of operations of the Indian Army, and their grounding has been a setback for the force. The manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is working towards bringing the choppers back in action and working closely with all stakeholders.

#WATCH | J&K | Security heightened in Pahalgam following the #PahalgamTerroristAttack.

(Visuals deferred by unspecified time.) pic.twitter.com/LZlBtwsISJ

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday, while condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, demanded that the terrorists responsible for the attack should be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court (ICC), which deals with investigating the gravest of crimes against humanity.

He also demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should push for proscribing Pakistan as a “terrorist state”. “Those responsible for this should be prosecuted in the international court. I urge the Home Minister to proscribe Pakistan as a terrorist state and move the International Criminal Court”, Sibal said.

The International Criminal Court, also called ‘The Hague’ in the Netherlands, investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

The grief-stricken grandfather of Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who lost his life in the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, has appealed to the government to take decisive action to eliminate terrorism.

“We request that the government give such people (attackers) strict punishment and end terrorism by any means necessary”, said Hawa Singh, Lieutenant Narwal’s grandfather, in a heavy voice.

Lt Narwal, who was posted in Kochi, had travelled to Jammu and Kashmir on leave and was in Pahalgam with his wife when terrorists opened fire. The young officer, a native of Haryana, had recently tied the knot, with his wedding reception held just days earlier on April 16.

Meanwhile, as the country mourns the tragic death of innocent tourists, the coffins carrying the victims of the terror attack were brought to the Srinagar airport. Several state government representatives have arrived in Srinagar to facilitate the return home of victims and tourists from their respective states.

This has been one of the biggest terror attacks after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Following the terror attack, security forces have launched search operations on Wednesday to track down the terrorists responsible. Security has been heightened since the attack, with visuals from the area showing the streets deserted in the usually bustling tourist area. Many organisations have also called for a Jammu bandh following the attack. (ANI)