- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
The meadows of Pahalgam, known for their postcard-perfect serenity, turned into a blood-soaked landscape of chaos and screams on a quiet spring morning in April. It was supposed to be a joyful family vacation for 47-year-old real estate businessman Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, Karnataka.
He had arrived in Kashmir just three days earlier with his wife Pallavi and children, hoping to soak in the beauty of the Valley. Instead, his trip ended in tragedy—gunned down by terrorists in front of his family, his wife’s desperate cries echoing in the chilling aftermath: “You killed my husband, kill me too.”
Rao was among 27 people, including at least two foreign nationals and senior citizens, killed in a brutal ambush by gunmen linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba affiliate, The Resistance Front. The attack took place in the scenic Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, a place often referred to as the ‘Switzerland of India’. But on that day, it witnessed one of the worst terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370 was abrogated.
He was Manjunath Rao. They asked his religion and then was shot by terrorists in Pahalgam.
— rae (@ChillamChilli) April 22, 2025
“My husband was shot from a distance,” Pallavi told CNN-News18, her voice trembling as she recalled the moments of horror. “When my son and I reached him, he was gone. I screamed at the gunman, begged him to kill me too. My son said the same. But he left.” Her voice, captured in a video that has since gone viral, has become a haunting testimony of the lives lost and the trauma inflicted.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident and called for swift action. “Kannadigas are among the victims of this shocking incident,” he stated, adding that two teams—including senior officers and police—have been dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir to coordinate with local authorities and bring back the mortal remains of the deceased. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and BJP’s BY Vijayendra echoed the sentiment, calling the incident “cowardly” and offering condolences to the bereaved families.
Another victim of this horrific tragedy was 65-year-old Ramachandran from Edappally, Kerala. He was on vacation with his wife, daughter, and grandchildren who had flown in from Dubai.
#PahalgamTerrorAttack | Ramachandran, killed in the brutal terror attack in Kashmir, had been an RSS Swayamsevak in Edappally, Kochi since 1977.
A former Mukhya Shikshak of Devangulangara Sakha, he also contested as a BJP candidate in the 1991 district council polls. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/ueMJkw58JH
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 23, 2025
According to family members, he was passionate about travel and had just returned to Kochi after years of working in the UAE. His holiday, too, ended in front of his daughter, who watched helplessly as her father was shot dead. His wife, weakened by age and shock, remains unaware of his death, being shielded from the truth by her daughter until she can muster the courage to share it.
Back in Edappally, friends and neighbours gathered at Ramachandran’s home, their disbelief as thick as the silence. “We spoke just before they left for Kashmir. I never imagined our conversation would be the last,” said Sivasankaran Nair, a long-time friend and neighbour. “He was always full of life.”
VIDEO | Kochi: Here’s what BJP leader K S Radhakrishnan (@Dr_KSRK) said after meeting relatives of N Ramachandran, who was killed in Pahalgam terror attack:
“It is a terror jihad against the humanity by a group of fanatic terrorists who have been making provocations in India…… pic.twitter.com/TVcScQF6Nb
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2025
In Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office confirmed Ramachandran’s death and stated that efforts were underway to bring his body back to Kochi.
BJP State Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar assured that his team was in constant touch with the family and coordinating all formalities. The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs department (NORKA) also set up a help desk to assist affected families.
Actor-turned-MLA Mukesh, who was part of a Kerala legislators’ delegation in Kashmir, visited the hospital where some victims were being treated. “Ramachandran’s daughter is handling everything. His wife hasn’t been told yet. The pain is unimaginable,” he said in a television interview.
Security forces have since cordoned off the area and launched combing operations. Intelligence reports suggest this might be a lure tactic, with concerns of further attacks in the region. Home Minister Amit Shah has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to visit Srinagar.
The tragedy in Pahalgam has left behind broken families, unanswered questions, and shattered dreams. What was meant to be a celebration of life and nature turned into an unforgettable nightmare. As the Valley mourns and the rest of India reels from the shock, the victims’ cries continue to ring: not just for justice, but for peace.
