‘Saved Because I Could Recite The Kalima': Assam Professor's Terrifying Encounter With Terrorists In Pahalgam

News18

23-04-2025

Last Updated:
During the Pahalgam terror attack, terrorists shot the man lying next to an Assam professor but spared him as he recited the Kalima
Debasish Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor in the Department of Bengali at Assam University, was among those caught in the deadly terror attack near Baisaran in Pahalgam. He recounted to News18 Assam the terrifying moments that unfolded — a story of survival, faith, and sheer luck.
'I was sleeping under a tree with my family when I suddenly heard murmurs around me — people reciting the Kalima," Bhattacharyya said. 'Instinctively, I too began to recite it. Moments later, one of the terrorists, dressed in camouflaged fatigues, walked towards us and shot the person lying next to me in the head."
The gunman then turned to Bhattacharyya. 'He looked straight at me and asked, 'Kya kar rahe ho?' I recited the Kalima even louder. I don't know what made me do it. For some reason, he turned away and walked off."
Sensing an opportunity, the professor quietly got up and fled with his wife and son. 'We climbed uphill, crossed a fence, and kept walking for nearly two hours, following the hoof marks of horses on the path. Eventually, we came across a rider with a horse and managed to return to our hotel."
Shaken but safe, Bhattacharyya said, 'I still can't believe I am alive."
The family is now in Srinagar, awaiting the earliest opportunity to return home.
At least 26 tourists were killed in the terror attack after gunmen opened fire on civilians in Pahalgam. The attack took place at Baisaran, where a group of tourists had gone sightseeing on Tuesday morning. A shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group- Resistance Front have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Among the dead were two foreigners — from the UAE and Nepal — and two locals, officials said. Victims included tourists from several Indian states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
As per the preliminary investigation, three terrorists gathered the deceased together, segregating them into male and female groups before confirming their identities. Some victims were shot from a distance using sniper-like tactics, while many others succumbed to blood loss. The location was deliberately chosen to ensure delayed rescue efforts, thereby maximising casualties, investigation showed.
Overnight Search Operation, J&K On High Alert
Security forces carried out a major manhunt, combing the area to track down the terrorists responsible for the attack. The Indian Army's Chinar Corps said in a statement: 'The search operation is currently in progress, with all efforts focused on bringing the attackers to justice."
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