Pahalgam attack: 'Go tell this to Modi' terrorists told survivor after killing her husband

A woman survivor of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir has recounted the horrifying moments she witnessed when gunmen opened fire on tourists. The attack, which took place on Tuesday in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district, resulted in the deaths of 26 people, many of whom were tourists, and left over 20 others injured. Among the victims was Pallavi's husband, Manjunath Rao, who was killed during the attack.

Follow all the latest updates on Pahalgam attack here

What happened during the Pahalgam attack
Pallavi, who had travelled to Kashmir with her husband and their son, recalled how her husband was shot and killed in front of her. "Three of us – me, my husband, and our son – had gone to Kashmir. It happened around 1:30 pm, I think. We were at Pahalgam. He died on the spot, in front of my eyes. It still feels like a bad dream," she said in a heart-wrenching interview with India Today.

The attackers reportedly targeted predominantly male victims, leaving women and children unharmed in many cases. Pallavi described the terrifying moment when she and her son confronted one of the attackers, pleading to be killed alongside Manjunath. She recalled, "I told them – kill me too, you’ve already killed my husband. One of them said, I won’t kill you. Go tell this to Modi."

Also Read: PM Modi lands in India; convenes emergency meeting at Delhi airport with NSA Doval, EAM Jaishankar

What the terrorists' said
According to Pallavi, there were three to four attackers, and after her husband was killed, she faced one of them directly. "You’ve killed my husband, kill me too," she said, urging the attacker to take her life. However, the terrorist responded coldly, "Nahin marenge. Tum Modi ko jaake bolo" ("I won’t kill you. Go and tell Modi"). This chilling statement seemed to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pallavi added that many local civilians rushed to the scene, using their ponies to help transport the injured to safety before authorities began formal rescue operations. Despite the chaos, Pallavi expressed gratitude for the help of locals. "Three others, who kept saying ‘Bismillah’, helped us get to safety," she recalled.

#WATCH | Shivamogga, Karnataka | Preparations underway for the funeral process at the residence of Manjunath, who was killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack #PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/Ii2dJ91RRi

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Also Read: Pahalgam terror attack: Donald Trump 'extends full support' on call with PM Modi, says 'US stands strong with India'


Prime Minister Modi's condemnation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi swiftly condemned the attack, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims. "I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected," Modi wrote on social media. He vowed that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice, stating, "Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice...they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Delhi in morning today after cutting short his Saudi Arabia visit. Immediately on his arrival, PM Modi took a briefing meeting at the Delhi airport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss the situation.

A meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is scheduled to be held at 11 am today, as reported by some news agencies.

Pallavi's grief is palpable as she described the trauma of witnessing her husband's death. "I want to return to my hometown, Shivamogga, but not alone. I will return only with my husband’s body. All three of us must come back together," she said. The family had been on holiday in Kashmir since April 19, and they were scheduled to return on April 24. Pallavi has requested the authorities to make the necessary arrangements for Manjunath's body to be airlifted so that she can return home with her son and husband’s remains.

Meanwhile, Manjunath's family in Shivamogga remains in shock. His mother, still unaware of her son's death, has been informed that Manjunath is injured and will return home soon. The family is left reeling from the loss of a man who was a realtor by profession.

The terror attack on Pahalgam took place on April 22, 2025, when gunmen targeted tourists in the region. The violence has sparked outrage across India, with political leaders from various parties condemning the attack. Many of the victims were newlywed couples, and Pallavi mentioned that Hindus appeared to have been targeted specifically. About 500 tourists were present in the area at the time of the attack.

The attack occurred after the tourists had arrived on horseback, with Pallavi recalling that her son had not eaten since the morning. Manjunath had gone to get him some bread when the shooting began. Initially, the sound of gunfire was mistaken for a military shot, but soon chaos unfolded as people fled for their lives. Pallavi described the traumatic scene of her husband lying lifeless in a pool of blood. "He had been shot in the head. I sat beside his body, unable to react," she said.

Help and Support
For those seeking assistance or information regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, the following helplines have been provided by local authorities:

Emergency Control Room – Srinagar: 0194-2457543, 0194-2483651
Adil Fareed, ADC Srinagar: 7006058623
Police Control Room, Anantnag: 9596777669, 01932-225870
WhatsApp: 9419051940
Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Department helplines: 8899931010, 8899941009, 9066638688 (Nissar, Asst. Director Tourism)