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Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pahalgam terror attack: Survivor reveals how chanting ‘Kalima' saved his life
A professor at Assam University, who survived the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, said the gunman spared his life because he recited the 'Kalima". Debasish Bhattacharyya, the professor in the Department of Bengali at Assam University, was among the tourists who were attacked by terrorists from The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed and many were injured in the attack, which triggered nationwide outrage. Bhattacharyya recollected the exact moments when the terrorist spared him and his family members' lives while speaking to News18 Assam about the attack. The professor said he started reciting the 'Kalima' instinctively after hearing murmurs from people sleeping under a tree alongside him. 'Instinctively, I too began to recite it. Moments later, one of the terrorists, dressed in camouflage fatigues, walked towards us and shot the person lying next to me in the head,' Bhattacharyya told News18 Assam. Also read | Pahalgam terrorist attack: These are the suspects in the deadly strike that killed 26 Recollecting his terrifying moments, he added, '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.' Bhattacharyya said he fled the spot by trekking for almost two hours by following the hoof marks of horses on the path. The family then hired a horse rider and reached the hotel, the report said. 'I still can't believe I am alive,' he added. The Chief Minister's Office said on Wednesday that the government is making all arrangements to bring back a survivor's family from Jammu and Kashmir. 'The CM Office Assam has spoken to a survivor from Assam of the dastardly Pahalgam Terror Attack and has taken a full brief of the incident which they faced yesterday,' the statement said. Also read | Rajnath Singh meets NSA, 3 defence chiefs as Pahalgam attack prompts security huddle 'The entire family's return to the State is being arranged on priority, and the Government of Assam is in touch with the Government of India to bring the family back to Assam at the earliest,' it added, without mentioning details about the family. Himanta Biswa Sarma had condemned the attack and said the images of coffins are heartbreaking and have shaken the nation's conscience. 'This nefarious attack will be avenged and the perpetrators will not be spared... India will never forget and never forgive!' he wrote on X.
News18
23-04-2025
- News18
‘Saved Because I Could Recite The Kalima': Assam Professor's Terrifying Encounter With Terrorists In Pahalgam
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." First Published:
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First Post
23-04-2025
- First Post
'I was saved as I could recite the kalma': Pahalgam survivor recalls how he escaped terrorists
As terrorists at Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam were singling out non-Muslims to kill them, a professor from Assam recited 'kalma', an Islamic verse, and survived after convincing the terrorists that he was a Muslim read more Sketches of three terrorists, Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha, who are believed to be among those who carried out the attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025. A professor from Assam has recalled how he survived the Pahalgam terrorist attack by reciting the 'kalma'. As terrorists were singling out non-Muslims to kill them, Debasish Bhattacharyaa of Assam University, Silchar, recited the 'kalma', an Islamic verse, and escaped after convincing the terrorists that he was a Muslim. In the Pahalgam attack, by asking people to recite 'kalma' and checking them for circumcision, according to sources. Follow our complete coverage of Pahalgam terrorist attacks here Advertisement 'Kalma' in Islam is a declaration of faith and serves as the allegiance to God. Those who could not recite it were deemed non-Muslims and were shot. Similarly, circumcision is a common practice among Muslims and those who were not circumcised were deemed to be non-Muslims and were shot. 'I was saved as I could recite kalma' Bhattacharyaa told News 18 Assam that he was sleeping under a tree when he heard everyone around him reciting kalma. After getting up, Bhattacharyaa said that he also started reciting kalma. 'I was sleeping under a tree with my family when I heard everyone beside me reciting Kalima. I too started to recite the Kalima. Then one of terrorist in camouflaged fatigues came near me and shot the person besides me on his head. Then he stooped to me and asked 'kya Kar Rahe ho (what are you doing)'. I recited the Kalima even louder. I don't know why. He then moved away,' said Bhattacharyaa, an Associate Professor at the Department of Bengali at Assam University. Once the terrorist moved away, Bhattacharyaa said that he and his family walked for two hours to get away from the site of the attack. 'Seeking the opportunity, I walked uphill along with my wife and son. I crossed the fence and walked for around two hours following the hoof marks of the horse. Then we got a horse with the rider and rode back to our hotel. I still cannot believe that I am alive,' said Bhattacharya. Terrorists killed at least 26 people in the attack in Baisaran area of Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the victims were tourists. The area was brimming with tourists who were taking joyrides on ponies and thronging the eateries at the time of the attack. Advertisement Four to six terrorists are believed to have been involved in the attacks. Their sketches as well as photos have surfaced in media reports. The Resistance Front (TRF), which is believed to be an offshoot of Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack.
