"Tu Bahar Aa": Father's Final Moments as Daughter Watches Helplessly in Pahalgam Terror Horror

New Delhi, April 23, 2025 — In one of the most chilling testimonies yet from the survivors of the Pahalgam terror attack, a young woman from Pune has recounted how her father was pulled out of hiding, made to recite an Islamic verse, and then shot dead when he failed to comply.

The attack, which took place on April 22 in the scenic Baisaran Valley, left 26 dead—making it the deadliest strike in Jammu and Kashmir since Pulwama in 2019. Among the deceased were six tourists from Maharashtra, including Pune-based businessman Santosh Jagdale.

“They asked him to recite the Kalma. When he couldn’t, they killed him.”

Asavari Jagdale, 26, recounted the horror in a trembling voice that barely held up under the weight of trauma. Speaking to national media outlets, she recalled how her family had been hiding in a tent when the attackers, dressed like local police, stormed the area with gunfire.

The Jagdales thought it was a crossfire between forces and militants. But the nightmare deepened when one of the attackers yelled, “Chaudhary, tu bahar aa jaa.” Her father was dragged out. “They blamed us for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she said.

Then came a brutal demand: the attackers asked Santosh to recite an Islamic verse, believed to be the Kalma. When he failed, he was shot thrice—once in the head, behind the ear, and the back. Her uncle too was gunned down. Police and security forces arrived 20 minutes later.

Targeted for Their Identity, No Place to Hide

The terrorists, Asavari said, were selectively targeting men based on religion. “They were asking whether we were Hindu or Muslim,” she said. What followed was pure carnage. Dozens of tourists had no place to hide in the open expanse of the valley.

Others from Maharashtra, including Atul Mane, Sanjay Lele, Hemant Joshi, and Kaustubh Ganbote, also died in the attack. Some had just left the site minutes before gunfire erupted.

A couple from Nagpur recalled how their son ran ahead, narrowly escaping. The woman fell and suffered two fractures in the chaos. “There was just one narrow gate. Everyone tried to flee through it,” her husband told ANI.

Pahalgam Attack: The Valley That Turned into a Warzone

Baisaran, dubbed “mini Switzerland,” was full of life that morning with tourists taking in the lush meadows. By noon, it had become a killing field. The attackers used sniper tactics, as per initial reports, and fired into tents from higher ground.

Choppers and ponies were used to evacuate the injured from the remote area. Many locals came forward to help, transporting victims to safer zones. Despite logistical hurdles, security forces managed to reach the site swiftly once alerted.

Lashkar’s Shadow Group Claims Responsibility

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. While investigations continue, intelligence reports suggest a deliberate attempt to stoke fear and target tourists.

Commentary: Why This Attack Hits Deeper

This was not just an act of terror—it was an execution rooted in communal hate. The deliberate selection of victims based on religious identity, the invoking of political sentiments, and the merciless targeting of civilians mark a disturbing escalation in militant tactics.

In an era where Kashmir’s tourism was reviving post-pandemic, this attack sends a chilling reminder of the volatility that still simmers beneath its beauty.