'My father was killed in front of me, I could not do anything': 18-year-old recalls Pahalgam terror attack

Time of India

24-04-2025

Richa Mone's father, Atul Mone, and two relatives died in a terror attack in Pahalgam
THANE: 18-year-old
Richa Mone
vividly remembers the horrific moment when terrorists gunned down her father,
Atul Mone
and two other family members Hemant Joshi and Sanjay Lele during what was meant to be a joyful family trip to Kashmir.
Atul Mone, a section engineer with the railways, had travelled to the Valley with the families of his two relatives. The three men lost their lives in Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam, where gunmen opened fire on unsuspecting tourists.
Speaking to TOI, Richa described the nightmare that unfolded on what was supposed to be their first day exploring the picturesque hill station.
"My father was killed in front of me, and I could not do anything," Richa said, her voice breaking.
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She recalled that the group was enjoying their first day in Pahalgam when two people suddenly approached them and began firing.
"They asked everyone who was Hindu and who was Muslim. When Sanjay Uncle raised his hands, he was shot first. Later, when Hemant Uncle asked what happened, he was also shot directly," she recounted.
"Later, my father told the terrorists that we were not doing anything and pleaded not to harm us, but they did not listen, and he was also shot. He was shot in front of me, and I could not do anything," she said, breaking into tears.
In the chaos that followed, Richa and a few others hid in fear for nearly 15–20 minutes. They desperately tried to wake her father, unaware that he was already gone.
"We stayed there in fear for 15-20 minutes. We tried to wake up my father, but he did not get up. After this, the locals there told us to run away, save our lives, and that the army would come to save us. We were told to save ourselves. After that, six of us left from there. Later, we came to know that my father and the other three uncles had died," she said.
Demanding justice, Richa said the family had never imagined their vacation would end in tragedy.
"We want justice; this was unexpected for us. It was the first day of our Kashmir tour. This was my father's second Kashmir tour. We want justice; we want revenge for what happened to us. We thought Kashmir was safe; that's why we went there," she said.