"Blood Stained My Shirt": Silchar Tourist Recalls Pahalgam Terror Attack Horror

In what can only be described as a narrow escape from death, a family from Silchar survived the deadly terrorist attack at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Among the survivors was Professor Debashish Bhattacharjee, head of the Bengali Department at Assam University, Silchar. He shared his harrowing experience of the tragic incident that unfolded before his eyes.

Bhattacharjee recalled how the family had included a visit to Baisaran in their holiday itinerary, never anticipating that the peaceful location would become the site of such a horrific attack. “We had included Baisaran in our holiday itinerary. Never did we imagine it would become the site of such horror,” Bhattacharjee said.

The ordeal began when the first sound of gunfire was mistaken for forest officials attempting to scare off monkeys. However, the reality quickly dawned on them as they realized something was terribly wrong. “We ducked behind a tree. One man nearby seemed confused, frozen in place; moments later, a gunman in a covered face approached him and shot him dead in cold blood. The incident was so close, some blood even splattered onto my shirt,” Bhattacharjee recounted.

In the ensuing chaos, Bhattacharjee and his family found themselves face to face with the gunmen. He described a terrifying moment when one of the attackers approached him and asked what he was murmuring. Bhattacharjee, who had instinctively begun whispering "la ilaha illallah" (the kalmia), feared the worst. However, in a twist of fate, the gunman turned away, sparing him and his family.

For the next two hours, Bhattacharjee and his family scrambled for safety. They managed to find their driver and eventually made their way to Srinagar, where they were safe. The attack, which unfolded on Tuesday, was the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Multiple terrorists, believed to be members of The Resistance Front (TRF), opened fire on tourists at the scenic Baisaran meadow. Eyewitnesses described the attackers, wearing camouflage and Indian Army fatigues, emerging from the nearby pine forests and firing indiscriminately at tourists.

The victims of the attack hailed from various states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. At least 20 others were injured, with many severely traumatized. Survivors described scenes of panic and confusion, with families scattering in all directions, children crying, and tourists running for cover through dense woods.

Intelligence sources have since identified the attackers as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF). The operation is believed to have been masterminded by top LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri. In the aftermath of the attack, a massive manhunt has been launched, with helicopters deployed and ground forces combing the surrounding forests in search of the assailants.