Mumbai: Even as the country is grieving the loss of 26 innocent lives, killed by armed militants in Pahalgam, actress Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram handle on Thursday to share the story of a Kashmiri ‘ponywallah’ who died saving tourists.
After condemning the heinous attack on tourists in her previous post, now Priyanka extended her heartfelt condolences to the kin of local pony guide, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who was killed while trying to snatch the weapon from a terrorist.
The post re-shared by Priyanka on her Instagram Stories read as, “Syed Adil Hussain Shah, Horse Rider & Sole Breadwinner, Lost His Life Trying To Disarm Attackers And Protect Tourists In Pahalgam”.
Syed Naushad, younger brother of Adil shared, “He used to take tourists on pony rides to Baisaran. On Tuesday when terrorists attacked tourists, my brother tried to stop them. A tourist whose father was killed in the attack told me about the heroic act of my brother at SMHS hospital.”
Terming the sacrifice of his brother as a “proud moment” for his family and friends, Naushad added, “There is also sadness everywhere.”
Devastated after losing his son, Adil’s father, Syed Haider Shah, said, “He was young and kind among all the siblings. He left at 8 in the morning and did not come back. Many boys from this village go to Pahalgam to find some work but who knew this was going to happen. The terrorists killed my son only because he confronted them and told them not to harm tourists.”
The 30-year-old ‘ponywallah’ was laid to rest at the ancestral graveyard at his Hapatnard village in Pahalgam.
J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who attended the final rites of Adil said, “Shah was trying to save the tourists when he was killed. He lost his life as he made an attempt to save the lives of tourists.”
Adil is survived by his wife, parents, two brothers and three sisters.
