Pahalgam terror attack: Pony ride operator sacrificed life to save tourists; CM Omar Abdullah attends his funeral

Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a hero who sacrificed his life to protect tourists, mourned by family and supported by government.

Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator and the sole breadwinner of his family, was killed in Tuesday’s terror attack in Pahalgam. Syed Adil Hussain Shah sacrificed his own life to protect the tourists.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) participated in Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s funeral prayers.

The CM also interacted with the family members of Syed Adil Hussain Shah at Hapatnar in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and assured them of all support.

"Perhaps he tried to stop them and tried to take away gun of a terrorist, that is why he was then targeted," Mr. Abdullah told reporters.

His tragic death has left his family in mourning, struggling to cope with the loss, and asking for justice for the loss of the innocent man.

Speaking to ANI, Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s father, Syed Haider Shah, said, “My son was the only one who earned for our family. He went to Pahalgam yesterday to work, and around 3 p.m., we heard about the attack. We called him, but his phone was switched off. Later, at 4:30 p.m., his phone turned on, but no one answered. We rushed to the police station, and that’s when we learned that he had been injured in the attack. My son was martyred, and he was the only earner of our family. We want justice for his death. He was an innocent man. Why was he killed? Whoever is responsible must face the consequences.”

Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s mother, her voice broken by tears, spoke of the irreplaceable loss of her son and said, “He was the only support we had. He used to ride horses and earned money for the family. There is no one else to provide for us now. We don’t know what we will do without him.”