Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday paid heartfelt tribute to Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the pony handler who lost his life trying to save tourists during the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shinde praised Shah’s bravery, saying the young man attempted to snatch the terrorists’ gun to shield innocent tourists:
“This is not about caste or religion. The tourists who were there were being shot at indiscriminately by these terrorists, and this person tried to save them. He even tried to snatch the gun from the terrorists to prevent the tourists from getting shot. However, another terrorist came and killed him.”
Moved by Shah’s sacrifice and the difficult financial condition of his family, Shinde visited their home and pledged support.
“I also spoke to Adil’s family at their house, his brother, and his father. Our people also reached there. He was the sole breadwinner for his family, a young boy, and their condition was not good. They came from a very ordinary family, so the Shiv Sena also helped them with 5 lakh rupees. This is a small responsibility, but it is our duty.”
Noting the poor condition of the family’s home, Shinde announced that the Shiv Sena would build a new house for them:
“His house was in bad condition, and the Shiv Sena has decided to build him a new house. This is a duty we have taken on with a sense of responsibility.”
The fallen hero’s father, Hyder Shah, expressed both heartbreak and immense pride:
“I am proud of him and his shahadat (sacrifice). I am alive only because of that pride. Otherwise, I would have died the moment I saw his young, lifeless body.”
Recounting how the family received the tragic news, he said:
“We got to know around 6 pm that my son and cousin were in a hospital. People who went looking for him informed me about the incident.”
He added that the family had a brief glimmer of hope when Adil’s phone showed activity:
“Adil’s phone had been unreachable for hours following the attack. Hope briefly sparked when his phone showed activity around 4 pm, and they believed he was returning downhill. But soon after, the grim reality emerged.”
Adil’s mother, overcome with grief, shared the deep void left behind by her son’s death:
“He used to earn 300 rupees a day. We’d buy rice in the evening and eat together. He was my eldest. Now, who will bring food? Who will bring medicines?”
Shah’s courageous actions have resonated across the country as a symbol of selfless bravery in the face of terror.
The Pahalgam Terror Attack on April 22 has been among the deadliest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, with 26 people, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali, losing their lives.
Security forces have launched an extensive search operation to locate and neutralize the terrorists involved.