Pahalgam terror attack: Bengalurean who had narrow escape recalls lack of security at attack spot

Bengaluru: A tourist from Bengaluru, who had a narrow escape from the shootout at Pahalgam, expressed concern over the lack of security at the Baisaran valley. 

Speaking to DH, Bijoy B G, a private firm employee, was at the Baisaran valley just an hour before the shootout on April 22.  He said that there was a visible absence of security forces in the area. 

“We visited many other places in Kashmir where the presence of security troops was evident. It was only in these three to four valleys that there was no security at all,” he told DH.

He and his family arrived in Bengaluru by their own arrangements on April 23, a day after the incident. 

Bijoy says that the feeling might have been that the valley was safe since one side of it was being used by those on Amarnath yatra. 

However, he noted that a local taxi driver showed concern towards the tourists and rushed them out of Pahalgam soon after news of the the incident broke. 

“After Baisaran valley, we hired a local taxi to visit Aru valley, Betaab valley and Chandanwari valley. When we were at Betaab valley, our taxi driver came running to us and told us that we would not be able to visit Chandanwari valley and we would have to leave. However, he did not mention about the shootout as he thought it would scare us,” Bijoy narrated.  He added that the taxi driver said that their safety was his priority. 

“In fact, we were reluctant to leave without visiting Chandanwari valley as the driver said that there was an accident. We were unaware about the shootout. But the driver said that our safety was his priority and moved us out immediately,” Bijoy added. 

On their way back, the family observed that fear and tension had gripped the valley and many roads were closed.

“We did see troops rushing towards the valley on our way. However, we understood the gravity of the situation only much later,” he said.