Wife of Pahalgam victim from Surat says, ‘Nothing against Kashmir’, questions lack of security at tourist place

The terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, took the lives of 28 people, including three Gujaratis. One of them was Surat’s Shailesh Kathaliya, whose mortal remains were brought home on Thursday. During his final rites, Kathaliya’s wife Sheetal expressed her anger at the government for the lack of security measures at a prominent tourist place.

Sheetal, while talking to Union Minister C R Patil, stated that she had nothing against Kashmir, but is against the lack of security.

“When the terrorists came, they did nothing to the Muslims. They specifically targeted Hindu men and shot them until they were dead. The terrorists were laughing while they were dying,” she said.

“You are defaming Kashmir, but I have no issue with Kashmir itself. The problem lies with the government and the lack of security,” she added, asking, “Why was there no Army, police, or even a medical camp near Baisaran Valley, a place that sees so many tourists?”

In the presence of the ministers, she stated, “You all will have to listen to this. Once everything is over, the government comes just to get photos clicked. What’s the point of attending funerals after everything is done?”

She concluded by saying, “I want justice – not just for my children and my husband, but for all the families who lost their loved ones. The future of the children of the deceased must be secured.”

Kathaliya’s mortal remains were kept in cold storage at SMIMER (Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research) hospital, and his last rites were conducted on Thursday morning.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister C R Patil, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, Education Minister Praful Panseriya, Forest and Environment Minister Mukesh Patel, and other dignitaries, along with relatives and family members of the deceased.