Pahalgam terror attack: ‘We went to Kashmir believing that the heaven on Earth is safe'
'All along the route, there was so much security. But at the valley where we were, there was no security personnel. We had faith in the government. We went there believing that the place was safe, and wanted to see Kashmir, often called heaven on Earth... We three went, but now we are returning with one body in a box,' said a grief-stricken Pallavi R., wife of Manjunath Rao, who was killed in the terror attack at Pahalgam in Baisaran Valley in Kashmir on April 22.
On April 24, speaking to mediapersons on her way back to Shivamogga, her native place, with her son Abhijan and the mortal remains of her husband, Ms. Pallavi said, 'He died in no time after he was shot. I could not talk to him. I was just a few feet away when he fell down. He was shot in the neck. I rushed to him and held him in my hands. Within a few seconds, his clothes and my clothes were soaked in blood. I have kept the clothes safe, and will not wash them,' said Ms. Pallavi.
The terrorists with weapons, according to Pallavi, fired at her husband from a distance. 'There was a forest-like area a few metres away from the place where we were. My husband was purchasing snacks for my son, who was tired. I saw two people with weapons, and did talk to one of them,' she narrated.
In fact, she and her son, outraged over Manjunath Rao's death, told the terrorists to kill them too. 'They refused, but told us to convey this to Narendra Modi,' she recalled.
Help from locals
The terrorists, according to Pallavi, targeted men among the tourists. 'There was a young couple. They shot the newly-married person at close range. I saw at least 25 dead bodies. Only women and children were spared. We were all screaming for help. There was no phone network in that area,' she said.
Two local Muslim men, who were terrified by the incident and were repeatedly saying 'Bismillah', helped them come down from the valley. 'It was tough terrain. We walked for about one hour to reach the hospital. One of them carried my son on his back, and another helped me cross the stretch by holding my hand. I am thankful to them,' Ms. Pallavi said.
Started as a dream trip
For Abhijan, 18, the 'dream trip' to Kashmir has left him shattered. He told the media that the first three days of the trip to Kashmir were wonderful. The family visited a tulip garden and Mughal Gardens on the first day. On the second day, they took a ride in a shikara (boathouse), and visited Sonmarg and Doodhpathri. They spent the next two days in Pahalgam.
'It was my father's dream to visit Kashmir. We enjoyed a lot on the first three days. The fourth day was tragic. With his death, the place has become a hell for me,' said Abhijan.
The family had left for the trip soon after his II PU results were out. He had scored 97% in the commerce stream.
When his father was shot dead, Abhijan said he was infuriated. He wanted the terrorist to kill him too. The boy said he would never forgive the people who killed his father, and wants them to go through a similar pain.
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