Pahalgam Terror Attack: 2 Karnataka Tourists Killed, 26 Dead in Devastating Assault

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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What Happened in Pahalgam: Chilling Details of the Attack

The peaceful hills of Pahalgam, known for their scenic beauty and frequent visitors, turned into a nightmare on April 22, 2025. Gunfire shattered the typical calm, leaving 26 civilians dead in a brutal terror attack. Among the victims were two tourists from Karnataka, their lives cut short while on holiday with their families.

Manjunath Rao, a real estate businessman from Shivamogga, set out for a tranquil vacation with his wife and son. For his family, what started as a simple escape became unimaginable horror; Manjunath was among those killed when armed attackers opened fire in a meadow area just outside the hill town. His family went through a painful period of uncertainty—Pallavi, his sister-in-law, said they'd lost all contact with Manjunath days before the attack. The family had last heard they were headed to a secluded spot, likely seeking the kind of peace that visitors flock to Pahalgam for.

Bharath Bhushan, a resident of Bengaluru's Mattikere neighborhood, also fell victim to the violence. Vacationing with his wife Sujatha and their three-year-old son, he was shot dead right in front of them. The bright holiday photos from earlier in the trip now stand in stark contrast to the tragedy that unfolded. Somehow, Sujatha and their child emerged physically unharmed from the chaos, but they now face a future without Bharath.

Who Is Behind the Attack and How Are Families Coping?

There’s no question the attack has sent shockwaves through both Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies wasted no time releasing sketches of three suspects with Pakistani links: Asif Fauji (who goes by the code name Moosa), Suleman Shah (also known as Yunus), and Abu Talha (Asif). These men aren't newcomers to violence; their names are tied to earlier incidents in Poonch, raising serious questions about how they managed to strike again so brazenly. The motive this time, according to reports, seemed simple and merciless—to target anyone, especially tourists, without warning or discrimination.

The impact of the tourist killings rippled quickly across Karnataka. Families whose loved ones were vacationing in Jammu and Kashmir scrambled for answers, and the authorities acted fast. Special helplines were set up across the state, becoming lifelines for anxious relatives seeking news. The sight of panicked calls and frantic searches served as a grim reminder of how far-reaching such attacks can be. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya reached out personally to Bharath Bhushan’s widow, offering whatever support the shattered family might need.

In the aftermath, the contrast is stark—Pahalgam’s open meadows and forests now ring with the echoes of loss, and the question lingers: how safe are India’s iconic tourist spots? As security officials hunt for the men behind this massacre and regions like Karnataka rally support for the survivors, the scars from April 22 won’t soon be forgotten.