Pahalgam Terror Attack: Bengaluru Techie Bharath Bhushan Killed in Cold Blood as Family Watches in Horror

 Karnataka: Dr. Sujatha, wife of Bengaluru-based diagnostic technician Bharath Bhushan, has recounted the harrowing moments of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, during which her husband was brutally shot dead in front of her and their three-year-old son.

Bhushan and Dr. Sujatha, a general physician, had arrived in Srinagar on April 18 for a long-awaited family vacation. On April 22, as they explored the scenic Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, terrorists launched a brutal attack on tourists. According to Dr. Sujatha, her husband’s final words were of reassurance to his family — “Don’t worry, don’t worry… stay strong,” — moments before he wasshot at point-blank range.

The attack, which claimed 26 lives, unfolded with chilling cruelty. Dr. Sujatha recalled that she had been trying on a traditional Kashmiri outfit under a tent when gunfire erupted. “One of the terrorists approached us after shooting another tourist. He said, ‘How can you be happy here while our children are dying? Don’t you read the news about us?’ Then, he turned to Bharath, asked his name, and shot him three times in the head.”

Despite the presence of a child, the attackers showed no restraint. “I knew from my medical experience that he would not survive,” Sujatha said. “I took his wallet, grabbed our bags, and ran, holding our son. The trail was filled with bodies. Eventually, I managed to climb onto a horse with my child, and the CRPF took us to safety.”

Bhushan’s remains were flown to Bengaluru in a special aircraft and arrived at around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday. He was laid to rest later that day with full state honours in an emotional and solemn ceremony. His final journey was marked by an outpouring of grief from family, friends, and the wider Bengaluru community.

As Dr. Sujatha and her son made their way back to Srinagar under tight security provided by the Indian government and with logistical assistance from the Karnataka administration, she continued to console her traumatized child — a child who had witnessed an act of unspeakable violence.

The family, residents of Mathikere in Bengaluru, had long planned the Kashmir trip as a moment of peace and joy — a dream that turned into a nightmare.

Bhushan’s mother-in-law also shared the disturbing account she heard from her daughter. “They asked if he was Hindu, and when he said yes, they shot him. The terrorists deliberately spared women and children but executed the men by shooting them in the head. They kept shooting until they were sure the men had fallen.”

The attack, believed to be carried out by operatives of The Resistance Front — an offshoot of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba — has drawn widespread condemnation across India. Investigations are ongoing, with sketches of the suspects released by Jammu and Kashmir police. One of the three identified terrorists is Asif Fauji alias Asif Sheikh, whose house in South Kashmir’s Tral has since been demolished.

As the nation mourns the tragic loss of innocent lives, Bharath Bhushan’s story stands as a heart-wrenching reminder of the brutality of terrorism and the resilience of the families left behind.