'Was Saved As I Could Recite Kalma': Assam Professor Recalls How He Escaped Terrorists In Pahalgam

The Associate Professor, identified as Debasish Bhattacharyya, said he was sleeping under a tree with his family when he suddenly heard people reciting the Kalima.

An Associate Professor in the Department of Bengali at Assam University has recounted the terrifying moments explaining how he survived the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack by reciting the ‘kalma’.

The Associate Professor, identified as Debasish Bhattacharyya, said he was sleeping under a tree with his family when he suddenly heard people reciting the Kalima. “Instinctively, I too began to recite it. Moments later, one of the terrorists, dressed in camouflaged fatigues, walked towards us and shot the person lying next to me in the head," News 18 quoted Bhattacharyya as saying. 

He added that later the gunman, looking straight at him, questioned, ‘Kya kar rahe ho? (What are you doing?) "I recited the Kalima even louder. I don’t know what made me do it. For some reason, he turned away and walked off," he added.

Finding an opportunity, the professor silently got up and fled the scene with his wife and son. “We climbed uphill, crossed a fence, and kept walking for nearly two hours, following the hoof marks of horses on the path. Eventually, we came across a rider with a horse and managed to return to our hotel," he added.

Bhattacharyya further added that he is still in shock but unharmed, saying, “It’s hard to believe I’m still alive.” The family is currently staying in Srinagar, waiting for the possibility to return home.

Pakistan-Based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Claims Responsibility For Attack

During the horrifying incident, at least 26 tourists lost their lives when armed militants opened fire on civilians in J&K's Pahalgam on Tuesday. The attack occurred at Baisaran, a popular tourist spot. The Resistance Front, a proxy outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the assault.

Among the deceased were two foreign nationals, one from the UAE and another from Nepal, along with two local residents, officials confirmed. The victims were from various states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Initial investigations suggest that three terrorists rounded up the victims, separated them by gender, and verified their identities before launching the attack. 

Some were shot from a distance using sniper-like precision, while others died due to severe blood loss. Authorities believe the site was specifically chosen to delay rescue operations and increase fatalities.