A year on, family of Bengaluru man Bharat Bhushan can’t get over Pahalgam massacre

BENGALURU: On the first anniversary of the gruesome terrorist attack in Pahalgam, there is complete silence in the family of Bharat Bhushan, who was killed by terrorists’ bullets. His wife and parents are in tears.

It has been a year since the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley — when 25 tourists and one local, a total of 26 people, were killed by terrorists. India retaliated with Operation Sindoor. But for those who lost their loved ones, that dark memory haunts them every moment. Having lost Bharat Bhushan, his wife and parents are shedding tears in Bengaluru.

Bharat Bhushan, a resident of Malleswaram in Bengaluru, had gone on a Kashmir trip with his wife Dr Sujatha and their child. Terrorists shot Bharat Bhushan in the head and killed him. There is now silence in Bharat Bhushan’s house, and his parents are crying remembering their son. They weep, saying the son who had hundreds of dreams about the future is gone before their eyes.

The family is living with memories of Bharat Bhushan. Dr Sujatha is trying to forget memories of her husband by keeping herself busy with work. Yet, those dark memories still appear before her eyes. Even though India took revenge through Operation Sindoor, the pain of losing their loved ones cannot be forgotten in those homes.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s been a year. Days have passed so quickly. The memory comes every day, every moment. I’m living by keeping myself busy with work. People keep coming in from across the border and doing this. Only when this completely stops can we say we are safe. We went to Kashmir believing we were safe. Trust in safety is gone. There were so many hopes in life”, said Dr Sujatha.

“The terrorists came walking among us. They came in the same dress as tourists and locals who work there. They took out guns and shot people dead. I knew who he was, he should have been shot in the head. It hurts that the one who came up to my brother-in-law and shot him wasn’t shot in the head. I saw that photo, I knew it was him. We reached Pahalgam in the morning. We thought we’d wait a bit. There was a river below. We thought we’d play and then go for lunch since it was time. If it had been just one minute later, we would have gone near the border fence. This runs through my mind every moment. I was running with the child and the bag. That memory is still there”, she said.

“I was married for six years. Their family of 40 years… Son, brother… There is sorrow in their hearts. Such people should not die like this. They never troubled anyone. The government should provide protection to those going on tours”, she added.