In the Pahalgam Attack Syed Adil Hussain Shah a Man who Died Defending Tourists

Heroism in the Heart of Tragedy

Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local pony handler was among the 26 people killed in a vicious terror attack that shook the tranquil surroundings of Pahalgam on Tuesday. In the midst of tragedy and destruction Adil’s father Syed Hyder Shah has come to represent grief, dignity and great pride in his son’s last heroic deed.
During the attack Adil, the family’s only provider and eldest son, lost his life defending tourists. The loss is unbearable for his father but he is able to get through it because of his son’s bravery.

A Father’s Pride Amid Pain

According to Hyder Shah, “I am proud of him and his sacrifice or shahadat. That pride is the only reason I am still here. If not I would have passed out the instant I laid eyes on his young dead body.”
Adil had a typical start to his final day. He set out early for work riding ponies in the verdant Pahalgam meadows for tourists. The family learned of an ongoing attack in the area at approximately 3 p.m. Adil was not responding to frantic calls until his phone briefly signaled before going silent once more. They hurried to the police station and then the hospital which confirmed their worst fears. According to reports, Adil was shot several times while attempting to protect tourists and even disarm one of the assailants.
“We learned that my son and cousin were hospitalized at approximately six o’clock in the evening. I was told about the incident by those who searched for him,” Hyder recalled. “He helped save some lives and I’m proud of that.”

A Mother’s Grief and Strength

With tears in her eyes, Adil’s mother spoke of her son as the cornerstone of their modest household. “He made ₹300 every day. When the evening came we would buy rice and share a meal. Now who will bring food? Who will bring medicines?” she inquired, her voice heavy with sorrow and anxiety about what lay ahead.
She was in mourning but she saw the humanity in her son’s last deed. “He passed away while rescuing them. But since they were also our brothers what are we to do?”

A Sister’s Sorrow and a Broken Future

The Shahs are devastated by the tragedy. Ravisa, Adil’s sister, mentioned that her brother was going to call in early that day. “He claimed to be feeling under the weather and would take the day off. He never returned though. He made an attempt to grab the gun and protect others. His throat was struck by one of three bullets that struck his chest.”

Acknowledgement by the Chief Minister

When he visited the bereaved family, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah echoed the locals’ praise of Adil as a hero.
According to what the CM heard, Adil was targeted because he attempted to halt the attack and possibly even snatched the gun. “This family must be looked after by us. The government supports them and will help them in any way we can.”
Among the deadliest in the area since Article 370 was repealed in 2019, the terror attack has sparked a massive security operation to find the perpetrators.

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A Final Journey Through the Valley

The 28-year-old pony guide Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the only local and Muslim, was killed at Baisaran on Tuesday afternoon along with 25 tourists, and a large crowd of villagers gathered outside his home. Shah’s confrontation of the attackers has earned him praise as a hero.
Shah’s family learned of his passing on Tuesday night and on Wednesday his body arrived in Hapatnar village. His funeral service was attended by hundreds of the local villagers. Omar Abdullah, the J&K chief minister, was also present at Shah’s funeral. “Shah is the family’s eldest son. When Shah was killed he was attempting to save the tourists. He died while trying to save the lives of tourists,” Omar remarked.

A Life of Labor and Responsibility

Along with his wife, parents, two brothers and three sisters, Shah is survived.
He was the only one making money. To work as a pony wallah he used to travel thirty kilometers to Baisaran. He used to earn between 600 and 1000 naira every day. “We learned of his death in the evening after he left for Baisaran in the morning on Tuesday,” according to his 60-year-old father Syed Haider Shah.
When Shah learned of the attack in Baisaran, he called his younger brother Syed Naushad Shah who was also in Pahalgam at the time. There was no response. “I learned of his passing at 5:00 p.m. from the local pony wallahs.”

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Eyewitness Accounts and Community Grief

A female traveler who was with Adil informed me that “my brother confronted the terrorists and was shot three times after witnessing tourists being killed. He immediately passed away,” he continued. “The deaths of 25 innocent tourists are just as painful to us as the loss of our brother.”
The village has between 300 and 400 households, according to Shah’s cousin Syed Shakir, and the majority of the men are laborers and tour guides who make a living by serving tourists.
A new home was what Adil had promised his family. The family’s hopes have now been dashed. “At minimum the government ought to give a family member a job,” Shakir stated.