'Terrorists shot my father thrice,' says tourist from Pune injured in Pahalgam terror attack

Panic and sorrow gripped several families in Pune as news emerged of a terror attack in Pahalgam JammuKashmir in which at least two tourists from Maharashtra were killed and several others mdash including Pune residents mdash were injuredThe victims from the city have been identified as Dilip Disle and Atul MoneOfficials from the Maharashtra government said that it was not yet confirmed which place Disle and Mone lost their lives The verification process is underwayMone worked as a senior section engineer at the wheel shop of Central Railwayrsquos Parel workshop Speaking to middaycom a Central Railway official said While the Maharashtra government and the Ministry of Home Affairs are making arrangements our team is also trying to contact his family to offer any support that can be arranged by the railway administration In this regard the Northern Railwayrsquos Jammu and Ferozepur Divisions have been apprised to extend whatever support is feasible under local conditions to the bereaved familyMaharashtra government officials also confirmed that multiple people from Pune were caught in the crossfire and sustained gunshot injuriesAmong those injured from Pune are Asawari Jagdale Pragati Jagdale businessman Santosh Jagdale gunshot wound Kaustubh Ganbote gunshot wound and Sangeeta Gabote The families of the injured have appealed for immediate medical assistance to their loved ones and clarity on their conditionTerrorists wore clothes similar to police uniformsTwentysixyearold Asawari Jagdale spoke to reporters over the phone five hours after the Pahalgam terror attackThe human resources professional said the family had been vacationing at the picturesque spot of Baisaran Valley when they heard gunfire from assailants who were dressed in clothes similar to those of local police descending from a nearby hillWe were a group of five including my parents at Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam ndash at a place known as lsquoMini Switzerlandrsquo ndash when the firing began Asawari Jagdale saidRecounting the horror she said that her family hid in fear inside a tent when the terrorists arrivedldquoWe immediately ran for cover in a nearby tent along with six or seven other tourists We all lay flat on the ground hoping for protection as we initially thought the gunfire was the result of a clash between the terrorists and security forces Asawari explainedThe terrorists first approached a nearby tent and opened fire Then they went to the tent where the Jagdalersquos were hiding and demanded her 54yearold father Santosh Jagdale to step outside and recite an Islamic verse When he was unable to do so they shot him thrice mdash once in the head again behind the ear and finally on his back said AsawariUncle was shot multiple times in the back Pahalgam terror attack survivor recountsThey said Chaudhari tu bahar aa jarsquo Asavari recalled The terrorists then accused them of supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by statements defending Kashmiri militants and claimed that they did not target innocent people including women and childrenldquoThey then ordered my father to recite an Islamic verse most likely the Kalma When he couldnrsquot they shot him thricerdquo she saidAfter her father collapsed the gunmen turned their attention to her uncle who was lying next to her and shot him multiple times in the backMy uncle was lying next to me The terrorists shot him four to five times in the back They also shot several other men at the site There was no one to help us The police or army arrived only 20 minutes later Even the locals nearby were reciting Islamic versesShe her mother and another woman relative were spared Locals who had guided the family to the spot on ponies helped them escape with three womenmdashincluding Asawari and her mothermdashmaking their way back They were then medically examined for injuries and taken to Pahalgam ClubHowever they remain unaware of the fate of their two male family members who have received gunshot injuriesFadnavis condemns Pahalgam terror attack says its a cowardly act of terrorldquoThe shooting occurred around 330 pm Five hours have passed and we still havenrsquot received any updates on my father and unclersquos conditionsrdquo Asawari saidReacting to the incident Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the attack calling it a cowardly act of terror He posted on X formerly Twitter ldquoMy heartfelt tributes to those who lost their lives My deepest condolences to the families We stand strongly with the bereaved Praying for a speedy recovery of the injuredrdquoHe also informed added that he is in direct touch with senior officials of the JammuKashmir administration and has spoken with Divisional Commissioner Vijaykumar Bidari for detailed updatesldquoThe condition of two injured persons from Maharashtra mdash Manik Patel from Panvel and S Bhalchandra Rao mdash is currently stablerdquo he saidMurlidhar Mohol the Union Minister of State Cooperation and Civil Aviation said In the terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam Jammu amp Kashmir two residents of Pune mdash Kaustubh Sudhir Ganbote and Mr Santosh Eknath Jagdale mdash have been injured I have had detailed conversations with both familiesHe further informed that ldquoproper medical treatment is currently being provided to the injured and all necessary assistance will be extended to themrdquo ldquoAdditionally I am personally in touch with the administration and discussions have taken place regarding ensuring appropriate support and medical care Mohol addedNationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar lawmaker Supriya Sule also took to X to express her concernldquoRequesting OmarAbdullah for providing immediate medical aid and support to the people hailing from Pune who have suffered injuries in the Pahalgam firing incident todayrdquo she posted and urged the administration to promptly share updated medical reports with the families concernedSeveral families from Pune often travel to scenic destinations such as KashmirThe incident has sparked concern among Punekars and has led to appeals for heightened security and faster communication for tourists in sensitive regionsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params