Pahalgam Terrorists Pulled Down Pants To Check Religion, Took Selfies With Bodies: Victim's Son

News18

24-04-2025

Last Updated:
During the Pahalgam attack, terrorists reportedly asked victims to recite the Kalma to prove their faith. Austin saw six killed and his father was forced to comply
In a chilling account of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, a young man who lost his father in the massacre revealed that the terrorists, wearing head-mounted cameras, were taking selfies after gunning down innocent people.
'The attackers were asking everyone whether they were Muslims or not," Austin, who lost his father, Sushil in the attack, said speaking to the media. 'If someone said yes, they were forced to recite the Kalma. After that, the terrorists would check their private parts by pulling down their pants," he added.
Reports suggest that during the Pahalgam attack, terrorists asked some victims to recite the Islamic verse Kalma to prove they were Muslim, those who couldn't were shot.
Austin also mentioned that the terrorists asked for names and religions before shooting their victims. He witnessed the killing of six people by the four assailants, who appeared to be around 15 years old. Tragically, his father was made to recite the Kalma as well.
Armed terrorists opened fire in Baisaran, the 'mini Switzerland' near Pahalgam, killing 26 tourists who were enjoying pony rides, picnics or at local eateries.
Puneet Maheshwari, director of Bhopal's Travel Planet Tours and Travel Agency, noted that all tour packages for Kashmir have been cancelled. Pre-bookings for May-June are also being cancelled due to fear.
Maheshwari added that, as a humanitarian gesture, they are cancelling bookings without any charges. He emphasised that it will take a long time for people to recover from this incident.
The tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir, which sees a peak during the summer months, is expected to suffer losses amounting to crores of rupees. This impact will ripple across the country's tourism sector, affecting northern states like Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, while tourism in Rajasthan and southern states typically declines during this period due to the extreme heat.
On Wednesday, the Union Government revealed rigorous diplomatic actions against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus-Waters Treaty, which governs the distribution of the Indus River's waters. This decision followed a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to the recent devastating attack.
In his initial public address regarding the horrific terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the nation's awareness of the merciless killing of innocent people by terrorists and expressed India's solidarity with the victims' families. He stressed that those responsible for this heinous act, both conspirators and terrorists, would face 'unimaginable punishment."