Surat/Bhavnagar, April 24 – Families of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir have expressed a deep sense of emotional justice following India’s retaliatory action under Operation Sindoor. The families described the response as the beginning of justice for the 27 lives lost, including Surat’s Shailesh Kalathia, in the brutal attack that occurred on Tuesday, April 22.
Shailesh Himmatbhai Kalathia had been on a sightseeing trip in Kashmir with his wife Sheetalben, daughter Neeti, and son Nakshatra when terrorists launched a sudden assault during a horseback ride toward Baisaran Valley. Shailesh was shot dead at the spot, while the rest of his family survived the attack.
In response to the Indian government’s counter-strike on terror bases across the border, Sheetalben Kalathia stated that she had unwavering faith in the government and that her trust had now been validated. She said the action brought peace to her husband’s soul and served as an appropriate response to Pakistan. While acknowledging the support extended by the Maharashtra government, she urged the Gujarat government to do more to secure the future of the children left behind.
Kajalben Parmar of Bhavnagar, who lost her husband Yatish Parmar and son Smit Parmar in the same attack, also welcomed the military response with an emotional statement. Reflecting on the horror of that day, she recalled that their group of around 12 people had reached Pahalgam shortly after attending a religious discourse by Morari Bapu. Just five minutes after arriving, gunfire erupted. She recounted how terrorists ordered her husband and son to lie down on the ground and then shot them at point blank range. When she turned around, both were lying in pools of blood.
The families described India's military response not merely as a strategic or political act but as a deeply personal and emotional reckoning. They emphasized that the attack had left a permanent scar, but the response helped restore their faith in justice and national security. Calling for continued vigilance and an uncompromising stance against terrorism, they expressed strong support for India’s security forces and urged the government to ensure that such tragedies never recur.
