Pahalgam attack: Terrorists recorded the carnage through GoPro-type cameras, say survivors

Dombivli: The group of militants who had executed the terrorist attack on tourists in the Pahalgam meadows had GoPro-type action cameras mounted on their caps and seemed to have recorded the carnage, according to members of the Joshi-Mone-Lele extended family from Dombivli, which had lost three members ghastly attack.

The three from Dombivli West who died of gunshot wounds during the 22 April 2025 attack are Atul Mone (43), Hemant Joshi (45) and Sanjay Lele (50).

While Atul Mone (Samrat Chowk area on Pandit Deendayal Road) was accompanied by wife Anushka (35) and daughter Richa (18), Hemant Joshi (resident of the Bhagshala Maidan) was accompanied by wife Monica (41) and son Dhruv (16) and Sanjay Lele (Kolhapure Chowk, Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Nawapada) was with wife Kavita (46) and son Harshal (20).

The dream trip has turned into a nightmare for the closely-linked family, which has demanded that the attackers be punished with death.

During brief emotional interactions, Harshal and Anushka claimed that the terrorists have cameras on their caps.

“They asked just one question…Who is Hindu?… Who is Muslim?…and shot innocent people at point-blank range,” the family members told reporters in Dombivli town, located in the Thane district, which is part of the Mumbai metropolitan region.

The three families and close friends were winding up their trip at the Baisaran Valley, popularly known as Mini Switzerland, when the terrorists attacked them.

They helplessly pleaded for mercy, but the three adult male members were eliminated.

The terrorists have used M4 carbines and AK-47 assault rifles.

“There were around three to four terrorists, and the firing continued for five to 10 minutes,” said Harshal. “They were having GoPro cameras on their caps,” he added.

“We were enjoying our holidays when suddenly two men in military uniform appeared, wearing GoPro cameras on their foreheads and asked whether we were Hindus or Muslims,” Anushka said.

“They ordered all tourists to gather together. Local horsemen sensed danger and told us to bow down to avoid provoking them,” she said, adding that Hemant Joshi, confused and unaware of the threat, asked the militants what they were doing. “They shot him in the head before he could finish his sentence…he fell,” she said.

They then asked to know their religion. “As soon as Sanjay Lele raised his hand, he was shot in the head. When Atul Mone responded, he was shot in the stomach,” Anushka said, breaking down, pointing out that they had to leave the bodies and go.

The terrorists shouted at the tourists, accusing them of “aatank machane aaye ho” (spreading terror) in Kashmir.

“We were escorted down by military and police personnel after hours. There were helicopters, but too few,” said Richa, adding that they were taken to Pahalgam, where necessary help was given.

Harshal said that it was a difficult situation for his mother, Kavita, who has health issues. “My brother and I carried her on our shoulders for some distance. There were horses some distance away. Then we put her on a horse and sent her to the base first. We walked to reach the base. I and everyone else were taken to the hospital,” he said.