SRINAGAR: In the middle of terror and tragedy, Aarti R Menon found unexpected solace and strength in two strangers—Kashmiri taxi drivers Musaffir and Samir—who stood by her like brothers after her father, N Ramachandran, was gunned down in the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, The News Minute reported.
“I had to wait in front of the mortuary till 3am and return again at 6am. They accompanied me like their own sister,” Aarti said after bringing her father’s mortal remains home to Kochi on Thursday. “At the airport, I told them I got two brothers from Kashmir. I also told them Allah would save them.”
Ramachandran, 70, a former BJP supporter who once contested the Ernakulam District Council elections, was among the 26 people killed in the attack while on a family trekking trip to Baisaran Valley. He was accompanied by Aarti, her twin sons, and his wife Sheela, who was not with them at the time of the attack.
Recalling the horrific incident, Aarti said they had reached the valley around 2.10pm and were attacked within ten minutes. “Everyone froze when a terrorist began shooting. He asked everyone to lay down. He approached us and said a word, which sounded like ‘kalima’, twice. When we said we didn’t understand, he shot my father,” she told reporters. “When I hugged him, the terrorist poked the gun on my head. I don’t know whether it was to shoot or scare me. He walked away when my twin sons screamed.”
“Kalima” refers to the Islamic declarations of faith, sacred to Muslims. While investigators have not officially confirmed any motive, Aarti’s account points to a deliberate targeting based on religious identity.
After realising her father was dead, Aarti ran for nearly an hour through the hills with her sons until she found signal coverage and called Musaffir, their driver, for help. From that moment on, he and his colleague Samir remained with her through every step of the ordeal.
Ramachandran’s wife Sheela was told of his death only after the family’s return to Kochi. His mortal remains will be kept for public homage at Changampuzha Park in Edapally from 7.30am to 9.30am on Friday, followed by cremation at Santhikavadam at 12 noon.
The attack has triggered nationwide outrage and grief, with investigations continuing into the identity and motivations of the assailant.
