Heroic Kashmiri Pony Guide Syed Adil Hussain Shah Martyred in Pahalgam Terror Attack

 on April 22, 2025, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a 29-year-old pony guide from Hapatnar village in Anantnag district, lost his life while courageously attempting to protect tourists. The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed 26 lives, including 25 tourists and Shah, the sole local victim, making it one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.

Syed Adil, the eldest son and sole breadwinner of his impoverished family, was ferrying tourists through the scenic meadows of Baisaran when heavily armed terrorists emerged from the surrounding pine forests around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses report that Shah confronted one of the gunmen, questioning their attack on innocent visitors and bravely attempting to snatch a rifle from the assailant. In the ensuing struggle, he was shot, sustaining fatal wounds to his neck, chest, and shoulders.

“He stood up to terror with bare hands, trying to protect others, and paid the ultimate price for his bravery,” said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who attended Shah’s funeral in Hapatnar on April 23 and pledged government support for his grieving family. Hundreds joined the last rites, reflecting the community’s admiration for Shah’s selflessness, seen as embodying “Kashmiriyat”—the region’s values of compassion and harmony.

Shah’s family, living in a modest mud-and-wood home, is devastated. His mother, Bibi Jaan, tearfully shared, “He earned ₹300 a day. We’d buy rice in the evening and eat together. Now, who will bring food? Who will bring medicines?” His father, Syed Haider Shah, expressed pride amid grief, stating, “I am alive only because of the pride in his shahadat (sacrifice). Otherwise, I would have died seeing his young, lifeless body.” Shah leaves behind his parents, sisters, and a younger brother, having worked tirelessly to save for his sisters’ weddings.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh for Shah’s family on April 25, commending his “bravery and humanity” and promising aid to rebuild their damaged home. The village committee is also providing essential food supplies to support the family.

The nation mourns Shah and the other victims, with candlelight vigils held across cities like Hyderabad and protests condemning the attack. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Srinagar on April 25 to meet the injured, while leaders like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and former cricketer Sourav Ganguly called for strict action against terrorism.

As security forces intensify their manhunt and the J&K assembly prepares for a special session on April 28 to address the crisis, Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s sacrifice remains a powerful symbol of courage and humanity in the face of terror.