Pahalgam terror attack: ‘He shielded tourists, took bullets, he died a hero’: Father of Adil Shah

Srinagar, Apr 24: Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a 22-year-old pony handler from Liver village, was among the civilians killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam while trying to rescue tourists caught in the crossfire. The attack left 28 people dead, including women, children, and foreign nationals.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Hyder Shah, father of Adil said the loss is devastating, but he takes solace in knowing that his son died a hero.
“I am proud of him and his shahadat (sacrifice). That pride is the only thing keeping me alive. Otherwise, I would have died the moment I saw his lifeless body,” he said.
According to eyewitnesses, Adil was among the first responders when militants opened fire near Baisaran. He reportedly rushed to help trapped tourists and shielded a group of them before being fatally shot.
“We got to know around 6 pm that my son and his cousin were in the hospital. People who had gone searching for them informed us about the incident,” he said, adding that Adil’s phone had been unreachable for hours.
“At around 4 pm, we saw some activity on his number and hoped he was coming back down. But soon after, reality hit us,” Shah said.
Adil’s cousin, who was also injured in the attack, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Anantnag. The family, still grappling with Adil’s death, is now praying for his recovery.
At the Shah residence in Liver village, a steady stream of mourners, including neighbors, friends, and officials continue to arrive. Locals have praised Adil’s bravery and called for official recognition of his actions.
“I don’t want sympathy. I want his sacrifice to be remembered. My son wasn’t just a casualty—he died saving lives. That should not be forgotten,” he said.
Adil’s mother has been in a state of shock since the news broke. Family members say she remains silent most of the time, often sitting near the gate as if waiting for him to return.
Rayeesa Bano, sister of Adil said their family is devastated. They are still in shock. Adil would earn around ₹300 -400 a day by offering horse rides to tourists, and had planned to return home early on the day of the attack. He was not feeling well and would take a day off the next day. But he never came back. He lost his life,” she said.
“He was innocent like 25 other tourists. Locals stated that he tried to snatch a gun from terrorists during the attack. He was shot—three bullets to the chest, one to the throat,” Bano said.
She further said she was first taken from Ashmuqam to Srinagar. We saw his name in the list later. Whosoever was killed in this incident are our brothers and sisters also. He was daily offering five times prayer and never has harmed anyone, Bano said.
The April 22 Pahalgam attack has triggered widespread condemnation across the country. Terrorists targeted unarmed civilians, including pony handlers, tourists, and drivers.
Shabir Ahmad, a fellow pony handler and friend said that he was someone who would stop whatever he was doing just to help others. Even in the toughest terrain, he never hesitated to assist,” he said.
In response to the attack, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced financial assistance and job support for families of the victims.