Who was Syed Adil Hussain Shah? The brave pony handler killed trying to save tourists in Pahalgam

SRINAGAR: The village of Hapat Nar, about 20km from Pahalgam, was steeped in grief on Wednesday as residents gathered to bid farewell to 30-something Syed Adil Hussain Shah — the lone local among those killed in the recent Pahalgam terror attack targeting tourists.

Adil, a daily-wage pony handler who earned Rs 300 a day by ferrying tourists to scenic spots like Baisaran, reportedly died while trying to protect visitors.

According to survivors, he made a desperate attempt to snatch a rifle from one of the attackers, possibly saving lives in the process.

At his funeral, chief minister Omar Abdullah joined thousands of mourners to honour what many believe was a final act of courage. “He tried to stop the attack. We’ve heard he was targeted after he tried to snatch a terrorist’s rifle … We have to take care of this family. I’ve come here to assure them govt stands with them and will do whatever we can,” Abdullah said.

Though word of his bravery is circulating widely, officials in the security establishment remain cautious. “We are familiar with the account that he was killed while trying to stop the terrorists. So far as our assessment is concerned, it’s still hazy,” a senior source told TOI, stressing that details from the ground are still being verified.

Adil’s family — his father Syed Haider Hussain Shah, mother Bibi Jaan, and his sisters — were in shock. They remembered him as a hardworking young man who had been quietly saving up for his sisters’ weddings. "Nowshad said Adil wasn’t responding to calls. It wasn’t until evening that we received news that my son was among the dead,” Haider said, referring to his younger son.

His cousin, Md Hussain, recalled how Adil had left for work on Tuesday morning like he always did, carrying his home-cooked tiffin. “Who could have imagined he wouldn’t return? The wives of so many of our tourist brothers, some of them on honeymoon, are going back with their bodies. This is a blot on Kashmiriyat that we can’t erase,” he said.

Among those most visibly anguished was Adil’s aunt Khalida, who expressed hurt over the lack of recognition her nephew had received in national coverage. “Nobody named our boy, but everyone should know that we are mourning every life lost in carnage,” she said.

While investigations continue into the exact timeline and sequence of the attack, one thing is clear — Adil’s death has left a deep void in his home and community. His story, many here believe, is a painful reminder of the cost borne even by those who stood far from the conflict’s frontlines, yet closest to the victims.


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