GoPro Cameras Mounted On Head, Masks On Faces: Pahalgam Survivors Describe Terrorists

On Wednesday evening, thousands gathered to pay their last respects as the bodies of the three men, killed in the Pahalgam attack, were brought back to Mumbai and laid to rest.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis pays respects to martyrs Atul Mone, Sanjay Lele, and Hemant Joshi in Dombivali, offering floral tributes and condoling their families after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Source : X [Twitter] | @CMOMaharashtra

The terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday claimed the lives of three cousins from Dombivli – Sanjay Lele (50), Hemant Joshi (45), and Atul Mone (43). Their tragic deaths have left the local community in shock, triggering a spontaneous bandh on Thursday as a mark of protest and mourning. The children of the deceased, who survived the attack, spoke at a press conference on Thursday, offering a chilling account of the incident.

Harshal Lele, son of Sanjay Lele, recalled the moment he realised his father had been fatally shot. 

“When I touched the bullet, I realised it had struck my father in the head,” he said. “People told us to save ourselves, that the army would take care of the injured,” the 20-year-old said.

Describing the chaos, Harshal said the firing occurred between 2:00 and 2:30 PM and that it took them four hours to descend the mountain.

“The terrorists kept asking, ‘Who is Hindu? Who is Muslim?’ before firing directly. They had GoPro cameras mounted on their heads,” he added.

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Dhruv Joshi, son of Hemant Joshi, described the attackers as resembling the way it is portrayed in the movies. 

“He had a mask on his face and a long beard, just like the terrorists you see in the movies,” he said.

As the city grappled with the tragedy, Dombivli observed a complete bandh. Shops were closed, public transport came to a halt, and streets remained empty. The bandh, supported by all major political parties and civil society groups, was observed voluntarily by the residents.

On Wednesday evening, thousands gathered to pay their last respects as the bodies of the three men were brought back to Mumbai and laid to rest. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP leader Ravindra Chavan, and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde were present at Bhagshala Ground to offer condolences and support to the bereaved families.