Pahalgam terror attack: Pride and despair pervade Kashmiri braveheart Syed Adil Hussain's house
About 80 kilometres from Srinagar, at Haaptnaar in Anantnag, the paved road ends and slopes downward to the left. After a short descent, a small bridge appears, currently dry, surrounded by scattered stones, showing signs of a stream that flows in summer when snow from the nearby mountains melts.
Beyond the bridge, a narrow track leads to a small hamlet at the foot of the hills, almost hidden from view. A winding lane brings a few modest homes into sight.
Inside one such house, a tent had been set up at the residence of Syed Haider Hussain Shah to mourn the loss of his son, Syed Adil Hussain, the braveheart who died protecting tourists during the militant attack in Pahalgam’s Basaran area on April 22, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Outside Adil’s small two-storey home, CRPF and police personnel stood on guard.
Inside, Adil’s brothers received visitors who had come to offer condolences, offering them a small pack of dates. Under the tent, Syed Haider sat quietly among the mourners.
Adil had married six years ago, but due to family disputes, his wife returned to her parental home shortly after the wedding. Since then, there has been a distance between them. However, after hearing of her husband’s death, she returned.
Speaking about Adil, Haider Shah said he was the only earning member of the family. He did not own a horse but worked as a guide and sometimes rented horses to tourists or loaned a horse to ferry tourists to Baisaran, accessible only on foot or horseback.
On the day of the attack, Haider Shah said, Adil was accompanying a group of tourists when militants opened fire. “One tourist was shot, and his daughter tried to shield him,” he said. “Adil told the girl to run and save her life.”
He said Adil confronted the militants, asking why they were shooting innocent people. He told them, "These people are our guests and innocent."
“A heated exchange followed. The militants, unmoved, opened fire. Adil was hit by four bullets — two in the chest, one in the abdomen, and one elsewhere. He died on the spot,” Haider Shah said. The attack took place while nearly 1,500 to 2,000 tourists were visiting the area.
Haider Shah said he was proud of his son's sacrifice. “He gave his life to save innocent tourists and to uphold the honour of Kashmir,” he said. “His courage has shown the world who we truly are."
However, he said the pride was mixed with deep sorrow. "His death has left a wound that will never fully heal. His mother, his sisters — all of us are devastated," he said.
After Adil’s death, several dignitaries, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, visited the family to offer condolences. Villagers remembered Adil as a kind and hardworking man who supported his family through modest earnings.
In areas like Pahalgam and nearby districts such as Anantnag and Shopian, many young men with little formal education work as tourist guides or rent horses to visitors. Adil’s death has also left the family without its sole source of income. His father expressed hope that the government would recognise their situation.
Meanwhile, mourners continued to arrive from neighbouring villages, offering prayers and words of comfort. Among them were political leaders, senior police officers, and army personnel — all paying respects to a young man whose bravery stood as a quiet, strong reflection of the spirit of Kashmir.
India