Don't want job or money, just martyr status for husband: Pahalgam attack victim Shubham's wife

Kanpur (UP): Ten days after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including her husband Shubham Dwivedi, Ashanya on Thursday said no effective action has been taken against the perpetrators so far.

Shubham Dwivedi, 31, was among the victims killed in the April 22 attack targeting mostly tourists in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam. Speaking to PTI, Ashanya said she is not seeking a job or compensation, but solely wants her husband to be accorded the status of a martyr.

"Neither has Shubham received recognition as a martyr, nor has the government eliminated the terrorists responsible for the killings," she said.

"I don't want a job or money -- just the status of martyr for my Shubham. I will carry this pain for the rest of my life." Ashanya, who now fears going outdoors, said she confines herself to a room where she spends hours gazing at Shubham's portrait and the shirt he wore during the attack.

"Even the sound of a tyre burst or a loud noise makes me tremble," she added, recalling the trauma that continues to haunt her after the attack.

During a visit on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi met the bereaved family at their Maharajpur residence. Ashanya said she placed her demand before the Congress leader, who assured her that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting martyr status for Shubham.

"Rahul ji has promised to raise the matter in Parliament as well," she told PTI.

Ashanya also urged the government to take concrete and immediate action against the terrorists behind the killings. When asked whether she would ever consider visiting Kashmir again, she said, "Never. Not even once."