Table of Contents
The Hindu Editorial Analysis
We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will delve into today’s editorial points along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
When Duty Called, He Rose: Pony Operator Dies Saving Tourists
- Hundreds gathered in Anantnag to attend the funeral of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a 28-year-old pony operator hailed as a hero for protecting tourists during the Pahalgam attack.
- Mourners filled Shah’s modest two-storey home in Hathe Patnar, grieving his loss and recalling his brave attempt to stop the attackers from harming tourists at Baisaran meadow.
- A relative shared Shah’s final act of courage, saying he died while trying to defend others. The incident evoked memories of the last Pahalgam terror attack on pilgrims in 2000.
- Shah ferried tourists from Pahalgam base to Baisaran, locally known as “Mini Switzerland.” On the attack day, he left early with a tiffin box, not knowing it’d be his last.
- Fellow pony operators said one gunman approached Shah, who attempted to intervene. In the process of trying to stop the firing, he was shot by the assailants.
- Shah’s mother said he was a laborer supporting the family through pony rides. His father confirmed he was the main breadwinner, leaving behind a wife, siblings, and grieving parents.
- Omar Abdullah, the former J&K Chief Minister, along with local MLA Altaf Kaloo, paid their respects by attending his funeral. The government extended support and acknowledged Shah as the only local victim of the tragedy.
Two Kashmir Residents Suspected Involvement in Pahalgam Attack
- Two Kashmiri men, Adil Guri from Anantnag and Ahsan from Pulwama, suspected to be among the six or seven terrorists who killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam attack.
- Both militants reportedly went to Pakistan in 2018 and recently infiltrated into Kashmir with three or four Pakistani terrorists, based on prior intelligence inputs received by security forces.
- Attackers targeted male tourists based on religion, separating groups of 8–10, verifying names, and shooting victims in front of women and children during the brutal assault.
- Some attackers wore camouflage, others dressed in black; they carried AK-series rifles and mingled with tourists before engaging them in casual talk and selecting their targets.
- Eyewitnesses recounted that the terrorists spared women, focused on killing men, and filmed the entire act using helmet-mounted cameras, indicating a premeditated and orchestrated plan.
- Terrorists chose Baisaran meadows as the site due to its lack of road access, reachable only on foot or pony, allowing them an easy escape into surrounding forested areas.
- After the attack, the militants escaped towards the upper Baisaran forest range, which links to valleys that lead to Kishtwar’s Warwan valley. Helicopters and special commandos then initiated search operations.
- J&K police released sketches of three Pakistani suspects; a photograph of four armed men, found in an earlier Poonch encounter, resembles those seen in recent attack.
- Police announced ₹20 lakh reward for information on attackers; identity of any informant will be kept confidential, while security agencies pursue leads across Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Resistance Front, considered a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, claimed responsibility online; however, security agencies have not confirmed the authenticity of this claim as yet.
- Security agencies are interrogating former militants and overground workers across the region following the attack, while tracking communications and local support networks linked to terrorists.
- The absence of police deployment in Baisaran despite intelligence inputs led local politicians to question security lapses, especially since Pahalgam is considered a high-security town.
- The meadow is a popular trekking spot, located just five kilometres from Pahalgam but inaccessible by road, raising concerns over inadequate safety for large crowds of tourists.
- As a precaution, all Kashmiri Pandit employees under the Prime Minister’s package in Baramulla were instructed to work from home till April 27 amid rising safety concerns.
Muslim Chant Saves Assam University Professor’s Life
- Debashish Bhattacharjee, Bengali Dept. head at Assam University, was visiting Kashmir with his wife and son when they were caught in the terrorist attack near Pahalgam on Tuesday.
- While taking photographs, he heard gunshots. A local shawl vendor initially dismissed them as forest guards scaring monkeys, but the situation quickly turned dangerous with people collapsing nearby.
- The family ran and hid behind a tree. A terrified man ran toward them, followed by a masked gunman who shot him right in front of Bhattacharjee.
- As the gunman approached, people nearby began chanting “La ilaha illallah.” Bhattacharjee joined in quietly. When the gunman pointed a gun at him, he repeated it louder.
- Hearing Bhattacharjee’s louder chant, the gunman moved away without harming him. The professor later said he saw three armed attackers and heard about fifteen gunshots in total.
- The family, along with other tourists, trekked uphill from Baisaran meadow to escape. They continued hearing gunshots even as they moved farther from the site of the attack.
- A kind village woman helped the group by calling local transporters. With her help, they managed to safely reach Srinagar after two hours of walking and tension.
Important questions
- Who was Syed Adil Hussain Shah, and what heroic actions did he take while trying to protect tourists at Baisaran meadow?
- Why is Baisaran meadow, the site where Syed Adil Hussain Shah tragically lost his life, referred to as “Mini Switzerland”?
- What was the strategic reason behind the terrorists targeting Baisaran meadows in the Pahalgam area for the brutal attack on tourists?
- How did the terrorists use helmet-mounted cameras during the attack, and what does this suggest about the premeditated nature of the assault in Pahalgam?
- How did Debashish Bhattacharjee use a Muslim chant to survive the attack?
- Who helped Bhattacharjee’s family reach Srinagar safely after escaping the attack?
Important vocabulary
- Mourners: People expressing sorrow over someone’s death.
- Modest: Unpretentious or low-key in appearance or scale.
- Ferried: Moved people or goods from one location to another.
- Breadwinner: The primary person responsible for earning income to support the household.
- Infiltrated: Secretly entered an area or organization.
- Camouflage: Clothing or pattern used to blend into surroundings.
- Eyewitnesses: People who directly saw an event happen.
- Premeditated: Planned or thought out beforehand.
- Chanting: Repeating words or phrases rhythmically.
- Terrified: Extremely frightened or scared.
- Collapsed: Fell down suddenly due to stress or injury.
- Tension: Mental strain or nervousness in a difficult situation.
Download Online Mock Test Mobile APP
3
