Bodies of 6 Victims from Maharashtra Flown Back, Thousands Gather to Mourn
After the Pahalgam terror attack, many tourists from Maharashtra, who were scheduled to travel to Kashmir this and next month, have cancelled their trips.
Mumbai: Thousands of people gathered to mourn for the three men from Dombivali killed by terrorists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. As their final rites were being performed on Wednesday evening, the people shouted slogans “Pakistan Murdabad” and “Hindustan Zindabad”. Some people were heard telling others in the crowd to henceforth shop only after checking the name of shopkeepers.
Atul Mone, Sanjay Lele and Hemant Joshi, who were close friends and relatives, were among the six people from Maharashtra who were killed by the terrorists. The three had gone to Kashmir for summer vacation along with their wives and children, all of whom are safe.
Joshi, who worked as a senior executive with a private cargo company in Andheri, had gone to Kashmir with his wife Monica, an accountant, and son Dhruv, 16, who had appeared for his SSC exams. Dhruv also sustained bullet injuries on his finger. Mone, a Central Railway officer, had gone to Kashmir with his wife Anushka, 35, and daughter Richa, 18. Lele was accompanied by his wife Kavita, 46, and son Harshal, 20.
Mone’s close friend Mahesh Surse, who lives in the same housing society, broke down while remembering him. “We trust the Modi government will ensure the terrorists are taught a lesson. There should be strong and strict action,” he said.
Rutuja Mahimkar, Joshi’s neighbour, said he had requested her to look after his home when he left for Kashmir last Sunday. “I was terrified when I heard about his death. I still remember our last conversation” Ms Mahimkar said.
Rajashree, Mone’s sister-in-law, said she spoke to her sister after hearing the news about the terror attack. “She told me that her husband was shot in the stomach. Terrorists also shot Lele in the head and Joshi in the chest. They targeted only men,” she said.
Body of Dilip Desale, resident of Panvel in Raigad district, was also flown to Mumbai from where it was taken to his home. Desale, 64, and his wife, Usha, 60, were part of a group of 35 tourists from New Panvel.
Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote — both residents of Pune’s Karve Nagar area — were best friends. Their bodies are expected to arrive in Pune at 11.30pm. Jagdale was part of a five-member group, which also included his wife Pragati, daughter Asavari, Kaustubh Ganbote and Sangita Ganbote. “There were several tourists around, but the terrorists specifically targeted male tourists after asking whether they were Hindu or Muslim,” Jagdale’s daughter Asavari said.
After the Pahalgam terror attack, many tourists from Maharashtra, who were scheduled to travel to Kashmir this and next month, have cancelled their trips.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who attended the funeral of Dombivali victims, announced a financial assistance of Rs five lakh to the families of six deceased from the state. He also promised justice for the families.
“The terrorists asked individuals their names and religion before gunning them down. It is a barbaric act which needs strong condemnation. Such a despicable act of terrorism will not go unpunished. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give a befitting reply at an appropriate time,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
On Mr. On Fadnavis’s instruction, a special flight has been arranged to bring the Maharashtra tourists back to Mumbai from Srinagar. This IndiGo aircraft will bring back 83 tourists to Mumbai on Thursday, officials in the Chief Minister’s Office said.
