Family and friends affected by tourist massacre in Kashmir

Family and friends affected by tourist massacre in Kashmir

In a tragic turn of fate, 26 tourists were shot by militants this week, which tears off old wounds between India and Pakistan and introduces the two countries closer to a military escalation. One of the victims had returned abroad after decades to enjoy his retirement with travel and time with the family. Another hoped that the journey into the beauty of the Indian -managed cashmere would raise the mood of his half -paralyzed wife.

bloody violence in Kashmir

Both countries claim cashmere in its entirety, but only control parts of the area. Since their independence from Great Britain in 1947, they have waged three wars because of the territory, which is known for its dramatic mountains and lush meadows. In India's sub -region, a bloody uprising has been raging for decades, which has cost tens of thousands of lives and is led by militant groups that demand either independence or an association with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan to support these groups, which Islamabad denies.

summary of the attack

The attack on Tuesday - in which men were shot up close, as survivors reported - was the youngest in a number of bloody incidents that shake the region. Balacandran Menonparambil feels as if he has lost his "right hand" after the death of his friend Ramacandran Narayanamenon, who was killed during the attack. Narayanamenon had worked in Qatar for decades and was looking forward to a life in retirement, as his friend reported.

a last call

"He was on the journey with his wife Shiela, daughter Aarti and two grandchildren and was looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren," said the 70-year-old. Menonparambil remembered the last call he received on Monday before Narayanamenon's departure to Kashmir, in which his friend sounded "excitedly". A day later, Menonparambil learned that his friend was dead.

"I saw the news from Kashmir on TV ... so I called him, but he did not take off," said Menon -parambil, while he contacted Narayanamenon's son Arvind, who informed him: "Dad is gone."

grief and protest

At the funeral service, many people came to express condolences. "Everyone asked me what I will do now. Only half of me are still working. I told them he is with me in my heart," said Menon -Parambil. Other survivors reported that the attackers accused some of the victims to support the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2019, Modi's Hindu-nationalist government withdrawn from the Muslim dominated cashmere the former autonomy, which led to protests.

After the massacre on Tuesday, Neu-Delhi quickly pointed to Pakistan, reduced the relationships and suspended his participation in an important water agreement. Pakistan denied any participation and explained that every attempt to stop or redirect water would be regarded as an act of war.

the families concerned

Kavita Lele lost her husband Sanjay, 50, and two cousins ​​- Hemant Joshi, 45, and Atul Mone, 43 - during the attack. All three men, described as a “loving fathers” and the family's nutrition, came from near the Megacity Mumbai and had made the trip to Pahalgam together. Sanjay and Hemant were accountants in small private companies, while Atul worked for the Indian railways.

The trip was planned for the Leles for a long time, since Kavita's sister suffers from a form of paralysis on the left side of the body and has difficulty walking. "They had planned this excursion for a long time, but because of their health problems it was postponed several times. When their health improved, they were finally able to vote and go all their schedules," said Kadam.

"Lele told his wife, if you didn't get along, nobody will go. So she finally agreed and she all made her way," added Kadam. He did not take part in the trip, but later traveled to Kashmir to bring the traumatized members of his family home.

The reality of violence

The family of vacation bought at a stand at Essen shortly before the attack. Unusually compared to the realities of the troubled region, they initially considered the sound of shots to be fireworks, but were warned by locals to bring themselves to safety. All three men were shot shortly afterwards, and a ball grazed the hand of his 20-year-old nephew Harshal.

It took almost four hours for the disabled cavita to fell down the hill with difficulty to get to safety. Kadam reported that the families would find hope in the protests in India, who demanded justice for the victims and their relatives. Nevertheless, her life has changed forever. "This is something that can't end. We have to live with it now," he said.