A local pony ride operator was shot dead while shielding visitors from a terrorist attack in the popular Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, Anantnag district, on Tuesday.

According to eyewitnesses, Adil Shah intervened as gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists, allowing several people to escape to safety before he was fatally wounded.

The incident, which unfolded in one of Kashmir’s busiest tourist spots, has sparked widespread mourning and drawn attention to Shah’s act of bravery, which many are calling a powerful example of selflessness and unity in the face of violence.

Who was Syed Adil Hussain Shah?

Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a 27-year-old pony ride operator from Ashmuqam’s Hapatnard area, was the sole breadwinner for his family, supporting his ailing parents, wife, two children, and younger brothers. Each day, he ferried tourists on horseback from the car park to the lush Baisaran meadow, an area only accessible by foot, hoping to earn enough during the busy tourist season to support his loved ones.

On the day of the attack, as the meadows bustled with visitors, armed terrorists stormed the area and began firing indiscriminately. Eyewitnesses and survivors recounted that the assailants demanded to know the religion of their victims, targeting non-Muslims after making them recite Islamic verses.

Amid the chaos, Shah acted without hesitation. He reportedly tried to shield a tourist, and in a moment of extraordinary courage, attempted to snatch a rifle from one of the attackers in an effort to protect those around him. He was shot in the process and succumbed to his injuries, becoming the only local civilian and the only Muslim victim among the 26 people killed in the massacre.

The news of Shah’s death devastated his family and community. His father, Syed Haider Shah, described the anguish of learning about his son’s fate after repeated calls to his phone went unanswered. “My son went to Pahalgam yesterday to work. Around 3 pm, we heard of the attack. We tried calling him, but his phone was off. It rang again around 4:40 pm, but no one answered. We rushed to the police station and were told he had been shot,” he said, demanding justice for his son.

His mother, weeping by the door of their modest home, remembered her son as the soul of the family. “He was everything to us. He earned for the house, looked after us, and lived with dignity,” she said, her voice trembling. “Now he is gone, and we are lost. But he died doing something noble… something I will always be proud of.”

His mother, her voice broken by tears, spoke of the irreplaceable loss of her son and said, “He was the only support we had. He used to ride horses and earned money for the family. There is no one else to provide for us now. We don’t know what we will do without him.”

#WATCH | J&K | Mother of the Anantnag resident Syed Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the #PahalgamTerroristAttack, gets emotional, says, “He was the only bread earner of the family…” pic.twitter.com/W7BgzeVOEC

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

The arrival of Adil’s body in his native village was met with an outpouring of grief, as neighbours and relatives gathered to pay their respects. His sacrifice has been hailed across Kashmir as an act of rare bravery and humanity.

“He didn’t die for a cause written in manifestos. He died for a cause written in the human heart,” said Imtiyaz Lone, a local shopkeeper who had known Adil since childhood. “In a time when terrorists tried to divide us with hate, a Muslim man gave his life to protect his non-Muslim brothers and sisters. That is Kashmir. That is what this land truly stands for.”

“When terrorists came to divide us with bullets, Adil stood tall with love,” Lone said. “He didn’t just save lives – he saved our collective conscience.”

Leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, attended his funeral and praised Shah’s courage, vowing that his family would not be forgotten. “He proved his bravery. He tried to stop the attack, he probably tried to snatch a gun and then was targeted. We will have to take care of his family,” Abdullah said at the funeral.

Adil Shah’s death has become a symbol of unity and compassion in the face of violence, with many in Kashmir and beyond recognising his selfless act as a testament to the values that bind communities together, even in the darkest times. As Kashmir mourns yet another tragedy, the memory of this humble pony ride operator’s courage stands as a powerful reminder of the strength of humanity.