In a symbolic assertion of peace and resilience, 26 bikers from Kerala (South India) rode into Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday, culminating their 11-day ride at the Line of Control (LoC) in Teetwal with a powerful message — “Bullet bikes over Bullets”.
The rally was sparked by the 22 April’s deadly attack that took place at tourist destination Pahalgam, leaving 26 innocent people dead and as many as injured.
The riders, travelling on Royal Enfield motorcycles, covered over 4,000 kilometers across ten Indian states since June 1. Their journey, they said, was a tribute to the lives lost in the attack and a clear stand against terrorism.
“We started this ride in response to the heinous Pahalgam attack. The bullets were meant to silence us, but our Bullet bikes will roar instead – with bravery, unity and resilience,” said Ramanand, one of the bikers.
Culminating the campaign near the LoC at Teetwal, a symbolically significant site on India’s frontier with Pakistan, the bikers carried messages of peace, communal harmony and the promotion of Kashmir as a secure tourist destination.
“The act of terror is not going to make us succumb. We are united against fear and hatred,” said Vishnov Das, another biker, adding that their presence in Kashmir challenges the perception of the region as unsafe.
Their campaign, “Bullet bikes over Bullets,” has gained traction on social media, with netizens applauding the initiative. “Welcome to Kashmir!” many users wrote, while praising them for choosing peace over fear.
It is noteworthy that the government is actively taking steps to promote tourism in Kashmir, with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah personally leading several initiatives aimed at restoring confidence among travellers—(KNO)
