SAMEER AHMAD
ANANTNAG, April 23: In an act of rare bravery and selflessness, 27-year-old Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local pony ride operator from Ashmuqam’s Hapatnard area, laid down his life while trying to protect tourists during the gruesome terrorist attack at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday. He is among the 27 victims who were killed in the horrific incident that has sent shockwaves across the region.
Adil, the sole breadwinner of his family, supported his ailing parents, his wife, and two younger brothers. His untimely death has shattered not only his family but the entire community, which now mourns the loss of a courageous and humble soul who earned his livelihood by offering pony rides to visiting tourists.
Speaking to reporters, Adil’s father recalled the harrowing moments following the attack. “At around 3 PM, we heard that something terrible had happened in Baisaran. We tried calling Adil, but his phone was switched off. Then, at around 4:30 PM, the phone rang, but nobody picked up. Fearing the worst, we rushed to the police station, where we were told that Adil had been injured.”
The news turned grimmer as more details emerged. According to eyewitnesses and initial police reports, Adil confronted the terrorists as they opened fire on the unsuspecting tourists. “He asked them why they were killing innocent visitors,” his father recounted tearfully while talking to Kashmir Despatch. “He tried to protect the tourists with his own body. But they shot him too. My son died trying to save others.”
The arrival of Adil’s mortal remains in Hapatnard brought an overwhelming wave of grief. The entire village descended into mourning, with friends, neighbors, and relatives thronging his home to pay their last respects. His sacrifice has been hailed as an act of courage that must not go unrecognized.
Local residents, along with the bereaved family, have appealed to the government to extend financial support and justice to Adil’s family. “He was not just a pony operator,” said a neighbor, “he was a hero.”
As Kashmir reels from yet another tragedy, Adil’s sacrifice stands out as a symbol of bravery and humanity in the face of inhuman violence.
