Veteran Marathi film actor, film director and screenwriter Pravin Tarde with his childhood friend Santosh Jagdale
Credit: Facebook/Pravin Tarde
Mumbai: Veteran Marathi film actor, film director and screenwriter Pravin Tarde - who has made award-winning films like Harishchandrachi Factory, Mulshi Pattern - is at loss of words. Tarde has lost his childhood friend Santosh Jagdale in the Pahalgam meadows tourists massacre.
Santosh and his relative and family friend Kaustubh Ganbote - are the two persons from Pune - who lost their lives in the terror attack.
Santosh’s wife Sangeeta had accompanied him while Kaustubh went along with his wife Pragati Jagdale and Asavari Jagdale.
“Terrorism came to our house today.. Lost my close friend Santosh Jagdale in the attack.. Friend Santosh, forgive us, we can't do anything,” Tarde wrote on Facebook in Marathi.
An acclaimed filmmaker, Tarde has also made films like Dharmaveer and Dharmaveer 2, which is based on the life of Anand Dighe, the mentor of now Deputy CM and former CM Eknath Shinde, who is currently the Shiv Sena chief leader.
In fact Santosh and Kaustubh are local businessmen from Karve Road in Pune.
They were very excited as it was also their first family trip by flight.
They asked religion, caused Modi and shot: Daughter
“They addressed my father…. 'Chaudhari tu bahar aa ja’…then asked to recite kalma…they cursed (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and shot him,” she said.
They were later evacuated by locals and security personnel to the Pahalgam Club, where the administration rendered the necessary help.
“My father and uncle were shot by terrorists while we were at Mini Switzerland,” Asavari said. “"There were several tourists around, but the terrorists specifically targeted the male tourists after asking whether they were Hindus or Muslims," she added.
“Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote from Pune were killed in the terrorist attack. Fortunately, their family members are safe,” said Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, who is also the Pune MP.
Ganbote ran a farsan-shop and was very popular among the locality. “He had many friends,” his aunt said in Pune while breaking down.
“My husband’s younger brother Santosh Jagdale, his wife and daughter had left Pune on 16 April…now this has happened,” said Jamuna Jagdale