Pahalgam Terror Attack: Pune Businessman Shot Dead After Failing To Recite Islamic Verse, Says Daughter

A family picnic turned into a nightmare for a Pune-based family aft terrorists opened occurrence connected visitors successful Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, sidesplitting Santosh Jagdale (47) and his brother-in-law Kaustubh Ganbote, some businessmen from Maharashtra.

Jagdale’s daughter, Asavari, a 26-year-old HR professional, said nan terrorists specifically targeted antheral visitors aft asking them to place their religion. “There were respective visitors around, but nan terrorists specifically targeted antheral visitors aft asking whether they were Hindu aliases Muslim,” she told PTI.

The family was visiting ‘Mini Switzerland’ successful Betaab Valley erstwhile they heard gunshots. “We instantly rushed to a adjacent shelter for protection. So did six to 7 different tourists. We each laic down connected nan crushed arsenic protection against nan firing, which we past assumed was betwixt nan terrorists and information personnel,” Asavari recalled.

What followed was a targeted execution. According to Asavari, nan attackers—dressed likewise to section police—entered their shelter and called her begetter out.

“They said, ‘Chaudhari tu bahar aa ja’,” she said. The men past questioned her father’s governmental beliefs, accusing nan group of supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They besides claimed militants do not harm women aliases children.

Asavari said nan attackers asked her begetter to singing an Islamic verse. “When he grounded to do so, they pumped 3 bullets into him—one connected nan head, 1 down nan ear, and different successful nan back,” she said.

Her uncle was besides changeable successful beforehand of her. “They fired 4 to 5 bullets into him. They changeable respective different males who were astatine nan spot,” she added.

“There was cipher to help. No constabulary aliases army. They reached 20 minutes later. Even nan locals location were reciting nan Islamic verse,” she said.

Asavari, her mother Pragati, and different female comparative were spared. They were later evacuated by pony handlers and shifted to nan Pahalgam Club aft undergoing aesculapian checks.

“After nan firing started, we ran on pinch different tourists. Later, nan Indian Army reached nan spot and rescued us,” she said.

The onslaught astatine nan celebrated tourer tract connected Tuesday claimed astatine slightest 26 lives, including 2 foreigners from nan UAE and Nepal, and 2 locals, officials confirmed. 

(With PTI inputs)

Published on: Apr 23, 2025 12:46 PM IST