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Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Assam minister visits Surat, Bhavnagar; extends financial aid to kin of Pahalgam terror attack victims
Assam Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika visited the families of the victims — killed in Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 — in Gujarat's Surat and Bhavnagar, and offered condolences on behalf of the Assam government while handing over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin. Three Gujarat tourists, including Surat resident Shailesh Kalathiya, Bhavnagar residents Yatishbhai Parmar and his son Smit, were among the 26 persons killed in the attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Earlier, the state government had also given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of three victims. On Wednesday evening, Hazarika offered condolences to Shailesh Kalathiya's widow Sheetal and handed over the compensation amount along with a condolence letter written by Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma. Reiterating her demand for more compensation, Sheetal said on Thursday, 'We received the cheque from the Assam government Wednesday evening. We have also received Rs 5 lakh aid from the Gujarat government, however, they should give a compensation amount similar to the Maharashtra government, which had announced Rs 50 lakh aid, free education for children, and a government job for one of the family members. Gujarat government has given (us) only Rs 5 lakh'. 'My husband was the sole breadwinner of the family and I am a housewife. Now, I have to bear all expenses, including paying for the education of my children and our daily expenses… we are spending from our savings,' she told The Indian Express. 'After shifting our base from Mumbai to Surat, we purchased a house here on loan. Now, I have to pay monthly instalments for the flat where we presently live. My daughter, Niti, studies in a private school in Class 11 and my son Naksh, is in Class 7 and I have to look after their studies as well. There is nobody to help us financially,' she added. Sheetal, who has a bachelor's degree in commerce, said, 'I am a graduate and I am ready to work for the sake of my children, if the state government gives me a job. ' On Thursday, the Assam minister, who was accompanied by Surat city BJP president Paresh Patel and other state leaders, reached Bhavnagar and met the family members of Yatishbhai and his Smit. Hazarika handed over two cheques of Rs 5 lakh each and the condolence letter written by Assam CM to Yatishbhai's widow Kajalben. Yatishbhai's elder son Abhishek said, 'Today Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika came to our house and handed over the cheques to us. The loss of my father and my brother is irreparable, but we are getting a lot of support from people. Even the Gujarat government has given us ex-gratia cheques.' The Assam government had decided to reach out to the bereaved families of all 26 Pahalgam terror attack victims to offer condolences and financial support on behalf of the state's people.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Their souls will be in peace': Families of Pahalgam terror attack victims from Gujarat's Bhavnagar, after Operation Sindoor
'My son's dream was to join the Army and fight for the nation but now, look at God's will — it became the opposite,' says 45-year-old Kajalben Parmar who lost her 17-year-old son Smit and 46-year-old husband Yatishbhai in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, when the family was a trip to Jammu and Kashmir. She demands 'much more' than Operation Sindoor: 'This should only be a jhalak (glimpse) of the action taken by India against the terrorists who took away sindoor (husbands) and lives of their sons.' Kajalben told The Indian Express, 'Modi saheb (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is like God to us. We won't forget what the country and Army did for us. With the action taken by the Army and Modi saheb within 15 days of the attack, we are really feeling good. The terrorists who took away our husbands have been taught a lesson. The loss and grief cannot be forgotten for life but at least their soul will be in peace. Yatishbhai Sudhirbhai Parmar's seven-member family left for Srinagar on April 16 to attend a Ram Katha by spiritual leader Morari Bapu. The family was set to return to Gujarat in a day or two, but the Pahalgam terror attack brought their trip to Jammu and Kashmir to a tragic end as Yatishbhai and his 17-year-old son Smit were among the 26 people killed by terrorists. The family, originally from Palitana, lives in the Nandanvan Society in Kaliyabid area of Bhavnagar city. 'I am not able to look at the photo of Smit on my phone now. He really wanted to join the Army and had also joined NCC in school. I wanted to see him in an Army uniform. The loss is forever,' Kajalben told The Indian Express. Bharatbhai Parmar (38), cousin of Yatishbhai, said, 'We are happy that the terrorists have got a befitting reply. This is absolutely correct, it is very good. We are a little relieved that the Indian Army has avenged the lives of our family members.' Revealing the incidents of April 22, Kajalben told this paper, 'We only heard Allah hu Akbar and daudo bhago. My husband and son were at some distance from us. What happened after that, we are clueless. It was only my 15-year-old nephew Sarthak Manojbhai Nathani who pulled me and the other family members from the scene and sought help from the Army and we could return safely. Only his bravery could bring us back alive.' Kajalben's elder son Abhishek who works in a private laboratory in Bhavnagar too expressed his satisfaction over the action, terming it to be a swift action within 15 days. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has paid tributes to the late father-son of Bhavnagar at their residence. The bodies of the father and son killed in the terrorist attack were brought from Srinagar to Mumbai and from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. From Ahmedabad, both the bodies were brought to Bhavnagar by road at midnight. While Yatishbhai owned a salon and restaurant, his son Smit was a Class 11 student at Vidhyadhish School. They had gone to Jammu and Kashmir to attend Morari Bapu's Katha at Sher-i Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar from April 19 to 27. The Parmars, along with four members from Yatishbhai's in-laws' side, left for Srinagar on April 16.
Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Indian Express
Last rites performed for father and son from Bhavnagar who died in the Pahalgam terror attack, Gujarat CM pays tribute
Seven of our family members went to Srinagar but only five returned, says 38-year-old Bharatbhai Parmar, watching the pyres of his cousin Yatishbhai Sudhirbhai Parmar (45) and nephew Smit Yatishbhai Parmar (17) from the cremation ground in Bhavnagar Thursday morning. Yatishbhai Sudhirbhai Parmar's family left for Srinagar on April 19 to attend a Ram Katha by spiritual leader Morari Bapu. The family was set to return to Gujarat in a day or two, but the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday brought their trip to Jammu and Kashmir to a tragic end. The family lives in the Nandanvan Society in Kaliyabid area of Bhavnagar city. Yatishbhai's wife Kajalben, along with her parents and other family members, returned Wednesday night to Ahmedabad by air from Srinagar and reached Bhavnagar by road. The family members said that the administration assured them to make all arrangements for the mortal remains and family members to reach home in Bhavnagar. 'It is an irreparable loss to the family. What was a good family time together turned into a nightmare,' Bharatbhai told The Indian Express. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel paid tribute to the late father and son at their residence. When their bodies were brought to Bhavnagar late at night, CM Patel went to their home and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. The bodies of the father and son killed in the terrorist attack were brought from Srinagar to Mumbai and from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. From Ahmedabad, both the bodies were brought to Bhavnagar by road at midnight. While Yatishbhai owned a salon and restaurant, his son Smit was a Class 11 student. The Parmars – Yatishbhai, his wife and son – hail from Palitana and have been staying in Bhavnagar for 20 years. 'They went to Pahalgam on Tuesday on an excursion for some good photo memories. The elder son, who works in a laboratory in Bhavnagar, did not accompany them due to his job. Yatishbhai's wife is on her way to Gujarat. The entire family is in shock at the moment and waiting for everyone to be back home safe,' Bharatbhai, Yatishbhai's cousin, told The Indian Express. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union Minister of State Nimuben Bambhania, Cabinet Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya, Mayor Bharatbhai Barad, MLAs Jitu Vaghani, Sejalben Pandya, Bhikhabhai Baraiya, and Gautambhai Chauhan, along with district administrative officials.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Father, son from Gujarat's Bhavnagar killed in Pahalgam terror attack
Ahmedabad: Yatishbhai Parmar, a hair salon owner, and his 17-year-old son Smit Parmar from Gujarat's Bhavnagar were killed in the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday, officials said on Wednesday. Yatishbhai and his son were on the missing list yesterday before their deaths were confirmed by security forces. Yatishbhai's wife Kajalben Parmar escaped unharmed. Vinodbhai Dabhi, another Bhavnagar resident, was injured as his arm was grazed by a bullet. Bhavnagar district collector Manish Kumar Bansal said, 'Yatishbhai Parmar and his son Smit Parmar from Kaliyabid area of Bhavnagar have died in the incident. Their bodies will reach Mumbai by evening, and the Gujarat government authorities will bring them to Bhavnagar from there.' He said the Parmar family and the injured Vinodbhai Dabhi were all part of a group of 19 tourists from Bhavnagar who had hired a bus for a vacation in Kashmir. Of the group, 16 were unhurt, barring the two killed and the one injured. The Parmar family had attended a Ram Katha by Morari Bapu in Srinagar before visiting Pahalgam, about 90 kilometers away, where terrorists in army uniforms fired on tourists. Prakashbhai Nathani, a relative of the victims, said, 'Losing Yatishbhai and Smit is devastating.' 'Kajalben's safety is a small relief,' added Nikhilbhai Nathani, another relative. Spiritual leader Morari Bapu, from Bhavnagar district, announced financial assistance through his trust to support the families of all 26 victims of the attack. For each victim who died in the attack, his trust will give ₹5 lakh in financial assistance to their family, he said. Bapu said the Ram Katha, which started from April 19, would be discontinued though it as originally scheduled till April 27, in view of the terror attack. Another Gujarat resident, Shaileshbhai Kalthiya, a bank employee from Surat posted in Mumbai, was also killed in the attack, which claimed 26 lives.
