by Ashis Sinah
Srinagar: Professor Debashish Bhattacharya, a Bengali language faculty member at Assam University in Silchar, narrowly escaped death during a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The professor and his family were on vacation when militants opened fire on tourists at the scenic Baisaran meadow.
Recalling the chilling episode, in a video posted on social media, Bhattacharya said he and his family were among hundreds of visitors enjoying the picturesque hilltop when they suddenly heard gunshots. Initially, many assumed it was a forest official firing to scare away wild animals. But within moments, chaos erupted.
“I saw a man being shot right in front of me,” he said. The attackers, reportedly four in number, were heavily armed and began firing indiscriminately. “They were asking people to recite the ‘Kalma’ (the Islamic declaration of faith), and everyone around me began chanting it. I did the same,” he explained. “One of the terrorists pointed a gun at my head, listened to what I was saying, and then turned away. I was repeating ‘La ilaha illallah…’ like everyone else. I didn’t know if it would save my life, but it did.”
The attackers reportedly targeted Hindu tourists, asking them to recite the Kalima and stripping some to check for religious identity, according to eyewitness accounts. The attack has sparked national outrage.
Bhattacharya said the militants moved toward other groups and questioned people in Hindi. Meanwhile, he and his family, who had been at the back of the meadow, took the opportunity to flee. “After the terrorist left, we climbed over a seven-foot fence and followed horse tracks. A local family guided us to safety, and our tour guide later found us. Eventually, our driver got us back to Srinagar,” he said.
The professor has since sought help in relocating his family from the region. The Assam Chief Minister’s Office has reached out and is reportedly coordinating assistance.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest targeting tourists in recent years, left at least 26 people dead and dozens injured. It has been linked to Pakistan-backed militants and is considered the most severe assault on civilians in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Analysts believe the objective was to destabilize the growing sense of peace and revival of tourism in the region.
