What was meant to be a dream holiday to Kashmir turned into a horrifying ordeal for a family from Karnataka after a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed the life of 47-year-old Manjunath Rao, a resident of Shivamogga.
Manjunath, who was travelling with his wife Pallavi and their 18-year-old son, was shot dead when terrorists opened fire on tourists in the picturesque Baisaran Valley—often referred to as “mini-Switzerland” for its verdant alpine meadows.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, 22 April, in the Anantnag district, has been described by officials as one of the most brutal in recent years.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened an emergency meeting with top officials, including the Chief Secretary and senior police officers.
He instructed authorities to take swift action to ensure the safety of Kannadigas currently in Jammu and Kashmir and to provide full support to the bereaved family.
Acting on the Chief Minister’s directives, a team of officials was dispatched to Kashmir, with police personnel from Karnataka also sent to assist. The state’s Resident Commissioner in Delhi has been coordinating efforts to repatriate Manjunath’s body.
Sources in the Karnataka police confirmed that Pallavi and her son survived the attack and are currently safe, but the trauma remains immense.
A police officer recounted Pallavi’s heart-rending account of the incident, as she described the helplessness she felt watching her husband die before her eyes.
“My husband died right in front of me. I was powerless. My son and I begged the terrorists to shoot us as well, but they refused,” Pallavi told the officer, breaking down in tears.
Pallavi, who works as a manager at the Birur branch of the Malnad Areca Marketing Cooperative Society (MAMCOS), revealed that it had been Manjunath’s lifelong dream to visit Kashmir. “Now, I regret ever coming here,” she said, after being contacted by Karnataka police. She urged the authorities to expedite the return of her husband’s body.
The family had left Shivamogga on 19 April and were scheduled to return on 24 April.
Shivamogga Superintendent of Police G.K. Mithun Kumar confirmed that he and Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade have been in regular contact with authorities in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Manjunath died on the spot. We are making arrangements to move the body to Srinagar and then airlift it to Karnataka,” Kumar said.
The Karnataka government has assured that all necessary measures will be taken to support the grieving family.
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