Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga

Shivamogga, Apr 28: Pallavi, the wife of Manjunath Rao, the tourist who tragically died in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, stated on Monday that while terrorists did not inquire about her and her husband's religion before killing him, they did ask other tourists about their identities during the horrific incident.

Responding to claims made by Karnataka Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur, who expressed disbelief that terrorists would ask about religion before killing, Pallavi recounted her harrowing experience. "The terrorists did not ask us about our religion. My husband was shot from a short distance. However, everyone I met there told me that the terrorists asked Hindus and Muslims to separate. The fellow tourists also shared with me that after asking about their religious identities and confirming that they were Hindus, their dear ones were shot dead," she said.

She further detailed the nature of the attack, stating that her husband was shot in the neck, as was an army officer nearby. "It was targeted shooting, not random. They fired indiscriminately," she claimed.

Recalling a chilling encounter, Pallavi confirmed the conversation between a terrorist and her son, where the terrorist allegedly called her son a "dog." "My son and I spoke to the terrorist. The terrorist asked us to go and tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have also been informed that a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team will visit us," she added.

Pallavi recounted their arrival in Pahalgam around 12:30 pm and their reaching Baisaran by approximately 1:30 pm, noting the swiftness of the attack. "The tragedy occurred within five minutes of reaching the spot. Later, we spent an hour asking for help. The army officer, who was also hit, was standing very close to my husband. His wife pleaded to take him for treatment. He was still breathing. However, in that situation, it was not possible," she recounted, adding that the officer succumbed to his injuries about five minutes later.

Her account directly contradicts the statement made on Sunday by Karnataka Excise Minister R. B. Timmapur, who said, "A terrorist who is shooting, how can he ask about religion or caste? He will just kill people and leave. One has to think practically. The terrorists can't stand there, question the religion of the victim and then shoot."

Pallavi had previously stated that both she and her 18-year-old son "confronted" the terrorist and pleaded to be killed alongside Manjunath. However, the terrorist reportedly spared them, instructing them instead to convey news of the attack to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The terror attack in Baisaran, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 26 tourists. Eyewitness accounts suggest that heavily armed terrorists emerged from nearby forests and opened indiscriminate fire on civilians, a majority of whom were tourists. Baisaran, a meadow located a few kilometers from the Pahalgam market, is typically accessed by tourists on horseback due to the absence of motorable roads.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had cut short his trip to Saudi Arabia following the attack and held a meeting with top security officials. He strongly condemned the act of terror, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice and reaffirming India’s "unshakable" resolve to combat terrorism.