Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: The serene memory of a holiday in Jammu and Kashmir’s scenic Baisaran Valley, often dubbed “mini Switzerland”, turned into a nightmare for the family of Shubham Dwivedi, one of the 26 victims killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
As the nation grapples with the tragic loss, Eshanaay Dwivedi, Shubham’s wife and one of the survivors, recounted the traumatic moments leading to her husband’s death. The couple, along with other family members, had stopped for a meal when a man approached them with a chilling question.
“We had ordered Maggi and just sat down when a man came from behind and asked if we were Hindu or Muslim. Then he said, ‘If you are Muslim, read the Kalma.’ We were stunned and confused. They asked me again if Shubham was Hindu, and when I said yes, they shot him immediately. The first shot hit him,” she told.
Shubham’s remains arrived in his hometown Kanpur on Thursday, where a wave of sorrow engulfed the community.
His father, Sanjay Dwivedi, spoke with profound anguish, recounting how his son, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law had been visiting the valley. The family had taken a brief stop at a restaurant just 7 km before their destination when terrorists confronted them.
“They asked about their religion, and after confirming that my son was Hindu, they shot him in the head,” he said. Sanjay added that his daughter-in-law pleaded with the terrorists to kill her as well, but they spared her, telling her: “We’re leaving you alive so that you can tell Modi what happened.”
The family has since met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Srinagar, demanding justice for the senseless attack.
In an emotionally charged plea, Sanjay called for unforgiving action against the perpetrators, declaring, “The action should be so severe that their seven generations never dare to kill anyone again.”
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama strike, has reignited concerns over civilian safety in the region and drawn nationwide condemnation.