DH NEWS SERVICE
Pahalgam/New Delhi, Apr 22:
It was a day of recall, remembrance and resilience. A year after three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists opened fire at tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, 26 families on Wednesday observed the death anniversary of their loved ones and political leaders said in unison that the country would not bow to terror.
At the picturesque grassland of Baisaran, fringed by mountains and dubbed a mini Switzerland, the months of quiet that followed the terror attack have slowly given way to the bells of pony rides and the shutter-click of cameras as tourists begin to return.
While Baisaran remains closed, other areas in and around are open to visitors.
“Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten… As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Such acts of terror cannot deter our unwavering commitment to peace and unity,” said President Droupadi Murmu.
The terror attack by the Pakistan-based LeT, which targeted tourists, killing 25 men who had gone to Kashmir for a holiday and a pony wallah, is the deadliest in recent years. The killings triggered a four-day military conflict with Pakistan after Indian armed forces retaliated on May 7 by targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories in the operation named ‘Sindoor’.
The Indian Army in a statement reaffirmed its steely resolve to fight against terrorism, making it clear that “the response is assured” for acts against India.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said India will neither ever forget the sacrifice of the victims and the anguish of their families nor will it ever forgive the perpetrators of this cowardly act.
His Congress party also used the occasion to question the Centre on its foreign policies and alleged that the government had failed to keep Pakistan diplomatically isolated on the global stage.
Away from the political debates, 26 families from across the country mourned their irreparable loss.
“That day, I lost everything in my life. Even today, I cannot forget that incident. Whenever I close my eyes, the incident comes back to me,” said PriyadarshinI Satpathy from Odisha’s Balasore district. Her husband Prashant Kumar Satpathy was among those killed.
“I am managing to somehow survive, because after he left, everything is gone – the happiness of my home and all the happiness in my life,” she said, adding that the government provided Rs 20 lakh as financial assistance but other promises, including a government job and support for her children’s education, are yet to be fulfilled.
In Kochi, Arathi R Menon, whose father N Ramachandran, was killed, addressed a memorial meeting to say that she was proud of India’s strong response to terrorism. “While standing here after one year, I feel that Bharath has given a stronger reply. The world is also aware about it,” she told reporters.
In Karnal, Haryana, Rajesh Narwal, the father of 26-year-old naval officer Vinay Narwal whose bullet-riddled body became the abiding image of the tragedy, said the family is still grappling with the tragedy.
“Though we continue to live as we must, life truly ended for us the day we received this devastating news,” he said.
Vinay Narwal, just 26 years old, and his wife of six days had gone to Pahalgam for their honeymoon.
As the families of the victims begin to pick u
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