Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday attended the funeral ceremony of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator at Phalgam's Baisaran meadow who lost his life in the heinous attack by terrorists on Tuesday afternoon.
The lone Kashmiri Muslim in the list of 26 deceased civilians in the terror attack, Shah died while trying to shield a tourist he was with and attempted to snatch a gun from one of the killers.
Speaking to reporters at the funeral, which was attended by hundreds of people, Abdullah said that Shah did not lay down his life in vain.
"This young man (Shah) worked hard to earn a living. He left home for work. Unfortunately, we returned his body in a coffin. But we have heard he did not die just like that. He proved his bravery. He tried to stop the attack, he probably tried to snatch a gun and then was targeted. We will have to take care of his family. I have come to assure them that the administration is with him. We will do what we can," Abdullah said.
Shah's father said those responsible for the killings must not be spared and that the killers must be brought to justice and be made to face consequences for their dastardly actions.
"My son went to Pahalgam yesterday to work. At around 3 pm, we heard about the attack. We called him, but his phone was switched off. Later at 4.40 pm, his phone turned on, but no one answered. We rushed to the police station, and that's when we learned that he had been shot in the attack. Whoever is responsible must face the consequences," Syed Haider Shah told news agency ANI.
Shah's mother, crushed by the tragedy, told ANI hat Shah was the sole earning member of the family. "Oh Allah, what have you done?"
Terrorists swooped down at the Baisaran meadows at around 2.30 PM on Tuesday and killed at least 26 civilians, mostly tourists, and left several others injured. Eyewitnesses who recounted the horror revealed that the terrorists specifically targeted men and killed them after demanding that they reveal their religious identity.
Speaking of the attack, Abdullah said that it was unfortunate that the guests who came to Kashmir have been sent back in coffins.
"What can I say? Our guests had come for holidays. Unfortunately, they have been sent in coffins. This young man (Shah) worked hard to earn a living. He left home for work. Unfortunately, we returned his body in a coffin."
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