Rage and grief after 26 killed in Indian administered cashmere

A honeymoon Indian naval officer, a tourist leader who was the only carrier of his family for his family, and a businessman who rests with his wife and children, were among the victims of the horrific attack, with 26 people in India administered Kashmir.

A group of artillery opened fire on Tuesdays at a resort in Pahalgham, a picturesque town in the Himalayas, often described as “Switzerland of India”.

Visitors from different states to India were killed, others severely injured – there is no official confirmation of the government’s numbers.

The attack has been one of the most deadly in recent years in the problem region, and it has broken the lives of many.

The attack took place on Tuesday afternoon. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that tourists had gathered in Baysaran, a meadow on the mountain 5 km (three miles) from Pahalgha when they heard the sound of bullets break in the air.

They began to run for cover and in chaos, some were injured or separated from their groups.

Venu Bhai, who broke his hand as he tried to escape, told BBC Hindi that there was confusion and chaos everywhere. The children could be heard to scream and no one knew what was happening, he said.

Priyadarshini, whose husband Prachant Sattey was killed in the attack, told before Indian Express newspaper that he was hit by a bullet as they failed with a rope.

JS Chandramouli, a retired banker who travels to Kashmir with his wife and four others, separated from his group, and his body, destroyed by bullets, was found a few hours later on the scene, the newspaper reported.

Most of the victims were Hindu men.

Some eyewitnesses said it seemed that the artillerymen were targeting non -Muslims, but others described the shooting as accidental. A local Muslim was among the victims.

The government of India did not officially account for whether people were directed on the basis of religion.

Himchashi, who was honeymoon with her husband Vinay Narval, an Indian naval officer, can be heard to say in a video that has now become viral that one of the attackers asked her husband if he was a Muslim.

“When he said no, the man shot him,” she said.

The couple married last week, April 16. On Wednesday, Himchashi said goodbye to her husband while laying in a coffin, draped with the Indian flag.

“He was the best man. I pray his soul rest in peace and he has the best life wherever he is,” she said.

Vinay’s grandfather, Hava Singh Naval, told the BBC Punjabi that his grandson initially wanted to go to Switzerland for his honeymoon.

“But he didn’t get a visa,” he said.

Asavari, the daughter of Santosh Jagdale – a businessman from Maharashtra – told the PTI News agency that the artillerymen asked her father to recite Islamic verse.

“When he failed to do it, they pumped three bullets into it, one in the head, one behind the ear and the other at the back,” she said.

She added that the attackers also killed her uncle, who stood beside her.

Naughty, whose husband Manchun Rao was killed, told reporters that when she encountered the attackers and asked them to shoot her, one of them said, “I will not kill you. Go to say that to (Prime Minister Narendra).”

The tragedy has torn families and swallowed households in grief.

As they talk to journalists, many relatives break into tears.

Syed Hussain Shah’s mother, a local man who took horseback tourists to earn a living and died in the attack, told Ani News Agency that her son was the only carrier of the family.

She was inconsolable when reporters asked her about her son. The reports say that hundreds of people attended the chess funeral, including Jamu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who to say Reporters that the man was killed while trying to stop the attackers.

In the western state of Maharashtra, the family is struggling to reconcile with the sudden loss of three of their members.

Atul Monet, Sanjay Aunt and Hemant Joshi, cousins ​​who had gone to Kashmir with six other family members, were killed by the artillerymen.

“We understood last night (about their death). The family is in shock,” a relative told BBC Marathi.

The arrogant attack of one of his most popular tourist destinations shocked India and was convicted by leaders around the world. People in India are protesting.

In Kashmir, locals closed the markets, business and schools on Wednesday in protest of the attack. Some locals told the BBC that they were afraid that tourists would be scared, causing irreparable harm to their business and Kashmir’s economy.

There is an ominous silence in areas that have once embarked on tourism.

More than 24 hours have passed since the cruelty and those affected are still struggling to put up with the incident. A huge manipulator for the fighters suspected of committing the killings is underway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interrupted a foreign trip to return to Delhi for conversations with security chiefs and other employees.

“These responsible and behind such an act will soon hear our answer, strong and clear,” said Defense Minister Rainat Singh. “We will not only reach those who committed this incident, but also those who sit behind the scenes have discussed to carry out similar actions on India’s soil.”

India has not yet said who thinks it has committed the killings. But after previous attacks, he began cross -border strikes, accusing militant groups stating that they were supported by Pakistan, denying the prosecution.

Observers say there is now a risk of fresh hostilities between nuclear armed neighbors if India takes a similar course of action.

Hava Singh Narval says she is full of rage and grief and wants a “example punishment” for the attackers.

“I lost my grandson today. Tomorrow someone else will lose their own (if such attacks do not stop),” he told the BBC Punjabi.

Jigin Report with BBBBC Thrid Majhan