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NDTV
29-04-2025
- NDTV
Meet The Pahalgam Heroes, Who Risked Their Lives To Save Tourists
Srinagar: When bullets rang in the scenic meadows of Pahalgam and terror dawned on tourists on April 22, a group of locals rushed to their rescue without caring for their own lives. These men, many of whom earn their livelihoods ferrying tourists on horseback, were the first responders. And as uncertainty engulfs Jammu and Kashmir today, with tourism bracing for a big impact amid headlines declaring the return of terrorism, the untold stories of these heroes need to be told. Among them is Sajjad Ahmed Bhatt, whose video of carrying a tourist away to safety during the terror attack had gone viral. Keeping fear aside, he carried an injured boy on his back for several kilometres downhill over the rocky terrain. There was a death in his family but that did not deter him. Struggling to find words, he said, "It was a scary scene. Children and women were screaming for help. Seeing so many dead bodies around, we couldn't decide what to do and who to save." "I did not care for my life. For me, even the tourists are my family. Rescuing them was our responsibility. We arranged water for them and put them on horseback towards the hospital. We won't forget that day. We will observe it as a black day every year. It was doomsday for us," added Mr Bhatt. But he wasn't the only one who stepped forward at the time of need. A visibly shaken Raees Ahmed, the president of ponywallah association, recalled that he saw some tourists, scared and shaken, returning while rushing to the Baisaran valley through a shortcut. "When we reached Baisaran, I saw a dead body and felt it was my last day. A woman approached me for help. "Save my husband," she cried. We took her to the gate and assured her the rest would be taken to the hospital. There were dead bodies strewn across the valley," he added. Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a 28-year-old pony guide, was among those killed by the terrorists. He was shot dead when he tried to wrest a gun from one of the terrorists. Remembering him, Mr Ahmed said the meadows are fenced and only tourists can go inside. "If the fencing were not there, many more Adils would have jumped to rescue the tourists," he added. Abdul Majeed, one of the ponywallahs, said a message dropped on their WhatsApp group at 3 pm from their association's president that a tragedy had struck Baisaran and locals must reach there immediately. "One Sajjad went viral, but there were hundreds of Sajjads who risked their lives to save others. They (terrorists) were demonic and murderous people who carried out the attack. We will always remember this day," said Mr Majeed. Nissar Ahmed Bhatt, who is in the same profession, said he and others carried the injured for kilometres to the hospital. "We are still shaken. We can't describe it in words," said another person in a shaking voice. "We were so happy before the tragedy struck. So many tourists have visited my house. We got so close with them. They (terrorists) created a rift between us and the tourists. I still appeal to tourists, come to Kashmir and see our hospitality. We stand here for you," he added. Among others who showed immense courage in the face of terror was an environmental activist. "Allah is the one who supports our livelihoods. So, let's not talk about it. I have toured the entire country and seen India's diversity. The same diversity can be seen in Pahalgam too. This land belongs to both Allah and Shiva," he said. Narendra Singh, a restaurant owner in Pahalgam, is still "mentally disturbed" over the April 22 tragedy. "We are god-fearing people. We serve tourists like we serve our gods. I am mentally disturbed. We may be from different religions, but we are united," he said. A Message From Pahalgam Raees Ahmed called the attack the "murder of humanity" and appealed to tourists not to change their Kashmir trip plans. "My message is that if you have a booking, please come to Pahalgam," he added. Sajjad Bhatt had a similar message for the tourists from different parts of the country. "I want to tell my Indian brothers and the tourists. You need not be afraid. You come to Kashmir, we stand with you," said Sajjad Bhatt. While words failed to describe the grief that they carried in their hearts, one message for the terrorists came out through their protests: "Not in my name, you are murderers."
India Today
25-04-2025
- India Today
In Pahalgam terror attack, one Aadil caused bloodshed, another Adil took bullets
This is the story of two Adils – one who gave up his life trying to save tourists and took three bullets in his chest and the other who opened gunfire on them in the calibrated terror attack that killed 26 people, all men, mostly the same but spelt differently by security agencies, Aadil Thokar alias Aadil Guree is of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). And Syed Adil Hussain Shah was a braveheart pony 'wallah'. The two men bookending the many shades of Kashmir, their very different lives telling the tale of conflict and also of Thokar, a resident of Guree village in Bijbehara in south Kashmir, is in his late 20s, officials said. Adil Hussain was just a little older at 30. On Thursday, the home of Aadil, a key accused in the April 22 strike in the Baisaran meadow in the upper reaches of Pahalgam, was destroyed in an it is not clear what exactly led to the blast, officials said explosives were kept inside and there was a search was a little more than a teen when he went to Pakistan on a Valid Travel Document (VTD) in 2018 and disappeared thereafter. Soon, there were reports he had joined the banned Pakistan-based terror group said he infiltrated back into India through the Line of Control in 2024 and was active in Doda and Kishtwar areas of Jammu into the attack targeting tourists – the worst in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike when 40 CRPF personnel were killed – indicate that the number gunmen could range from five to seven. They were helped by at least two local terrorists who received training in on the run, was one of them. He was identified by the wife of one of those least six to seven pictures were shown to eyewitnesses. One of them identified Aadil as the terrorist pulling the trigger. After that, the terrorists vanished into the thick pine jungles of Pir other young man at the centre of conversation nationwide following the Pahalgam strike has had a very different life the killer, the other the hero, loved and mourned by the sole earning member of his family, earned his living taking tourists up six kilometres on his pony from Pahalgam town to the expansive green meadow that was a must-see for all day must have started like any other for him and the family.'On Tuesday afternoon, when terrorists attacked tourists, my brother tried to stop them. A tourist whose father was killed in the attack told me about the heroic act of my brother at SMHS hospital,' said Syed Naushad, adding that the killers pumped three bullets into Adil's was the only Kashmiri killed by the armed gunmen who specifically targeted tourism, hitting at the root of the economy heavily dependent on over his death hangs like a shroud, but there is also enormous pride. Naushad said his brother's sacrifice was a 'proud moment' for the family and friends. His sister Asma said she felt a sense of foreboding.'In the morning, I told him not to go, as if I knew something bad was going to happen. But, he did not listen to me and left,' she said, describing her brother as a brave man always ready to support devastated father Syed Haider Shah said he was the kindest of his children. 'Many boys from this village go to Pahalgam to find some work but who knew this was going to happen. The terrorists killed my son only because he confronted them and told them not to harm tourists.'He said there was no mobile connectivity in Baisaran. "When he did not return in the evening, we started calling him, but nobody picked up the family was not alone in their grief. Hundreds of people gathered in his ancestral village Hapatnard in Pahalgam as he was laid to rest. Among them was Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.'I visited Pahalgam today to offer 'fatiha' (prayer after burial) for braveheart Shah, who was shot dead while trying to snatch a weapon from one of the terrorists in a courageous attempt to protect the tourists he had ferried on horseback from the parking area to Baisaran meadow.'Met his grieving family and assured them of full support — Adil (Shah) was the sole breadwinner, and his extraordinary bravery and sacrifice will forever be remembered,' the chief minister wrote in a post shared by his office on Hassan, who led the funeral prayers of Shah, lauded the sacrifice of the youth, saluted Adil for his courage and said Allah would reward him for his deeds. 'We should always be ready to die for others, whether a Sikh, Pandit or a Muslim. That is what our religion teaches us,' he credo Adil lived by – and died InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Jammu and Kashmir#Pakistan
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
Aadil and Adil: two lives that tell the Pahalgam tale
Srinagar: This is the story of two Adils - one who gave up his life trying to save tourists and took three bullets in his chest and the other who opened gunfire on them in the calibrated terror attack that killed 26 people, all men, mostly tourists. Pronounced the same but spelt differently by security agencies, Aadil Thokar alias Aadil Guree is of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). And Syed Adil Hussain Shah was a braveheart pony 'wallah'. The two men bookending the many shades of Kashmir, their very different lives telling the tale of conflict and also of compassion. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India pulled the plug on IWT when Pakistanis are fighting over water Pakistan alleges terror charge on India in its statement What makes this India-Pakistan standoff more dangerous than past ones Aadil Thokar, a resident of Guree village in Bijbehara in south Kashmir, is in his late 20s, officials said. Adil Hussain was just a little older at 30. On Thursday, the home of Aadil, a key accused in the April 22 strike in the Baisaran meadow in the upper reaches of Pahalgam, was destroyed in an explosion. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Though it is not clear what exactly led to the blast, officials said explosives were kept inside and there was a search operation. He was a little more than a teen when he went to Pakistan on a Valid Travel Document (VTD) in 2018 and disappeared thereafter. Soon, there were reports he had joined the banned Pakistan-based terror group LeT. Live Events Officials said he infiltrated back into India through the Line of Control in 2024 and was active in Doda and Kishtwar areas of Jammu region. Investigations into the attack targeting tourists - the worst in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike when 40 CRPF personnel were killed - indicate that the number gunmen could range from five to seven. They were helped by at least two local militants who received training in Pakistan. Aadil, on the run, was one of them. He was identified by the wife of one of those killed. At least six to seven pictures were shown to eyewitnesses. One of them identified Aadil as the terrorist pulling the trigger. After that, the gunmen vanished into the thick pine jungles of Pir Panjal. The other young man at the centre of conversation nationwide following the Pahalgam strike has had a very different life trajectory. One the killer, the other the hero loved and mourned by thousands. Adil, the sole earning member of his family, earned his living taking tourists up six kilometres on his pony from Pahalgam town to the expansive green meadow that was a must see for all visitors. That day must have started like any other for him and the family. "On Tuesday afternoon when terrorists attacked tourists, my brother tried to stop them. A tourist whose father was killed in the attack told me about the heroic act of my brother at SMHS hospital," said Syed Naushad, adding that the killers pumped three bullets into Adil's chest. Adil was the only Kashmiri killed by the armed gunmen who specifically targeted tourism, hitting at the root of the economy heavily dependent on tourism. Sadness over his death hangs like a shroud but there is also enormous pride. Naushad said his brother's sacrifice is a "proud moment" for the family and friends. His sister Asma said she felt a sense of foreboding. "In the morning, I told him not to go as if I knew something bad was going to happen. But he did not listen to me and left," she said, describing her brother as a brave man always ready to support others. His devastated father Syed Haider Shah said he was the kindest of his children. "Many boys from this village go to Pahalgam to find some work but who knew this was going to happen. The terrorists killed my son only because he confronted them and told them not to harm tourists." He said there was no mobile connectivity in Baisaran. "When he did not return in the evening, we started calling him but nobody picked up the phone. The family was not alone in their grief. Hundreds of people gathered in his ancestral village Hapatnard in Pahalgam as he was laid to rest. Among them was Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "I visited Pahalgam today to offer 'fatiha' (prayer after burial) for brave-heart Shah, who was shot dead while trying to snatch a weapon from one of the terrorists in a courageous attempt to protect the tourists he had ferried on horseback from the parking area to Baisaran meadow. "Met his grieving family and assured them of full support - Adil (Shah) was the sole breadwinner, and his extraordinary bravery and sacrifice will forever be remembered," the chief minister wrote in a post shared by his office on X. Ghulam Hassan, who led the funeral prayers of Shah lauded the sacrifice of the youth, saluted Adil for his courage and said Allah would reward him for his deeds. "We should always be ready to die for others, whether a Sikh, Pandit or a Muslim. That is what our religion teaches us," he said. The credo Adil lived by - and died for.
