Pahalgam Terror Attack Victim’s Wife Recounts Horror As Husband Shot Dead
Kanpur, 23rd April 2025: A newlywed woman from Kanpur witnessed her husband being executed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam after they refused to falsely claim being Muslim, narrating the ordeal hours after the attack that left multiple dead. Eshanya, whose husband Shubham Dwivedi (age undisclosed) was killed instantly by a point-blank gunshot to the head, described how the assailant first asked their religion twice before opening fire.
The attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon at a tourist spot in Pahalgam, where Shubham, Eshanya, her sister Shambhavi, and parents were vacationing. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden barrage of gunfire after the initial targeted killing, triggering panic. “We thought it was a prank when he asked if we were Muslim or Hindu. Within seconds, he shot Shubham. I couldn’t even react before my family dragged me to safety,” Eshanya told Dainik Jagran, breaking down during the call.
The couple, married recently, was on their first family trip when the terrorist confronted them near a gate at the hill station. After demanding they recite the Islamic Kalma, the attacker shot Shubham upon hearing their refusal. Security forces later secured the area, but not before multiple casualties were reported.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath contacted Shubham’s father, Sanjay Dwivedi, a prominent cement businessman in Kanpur’s Maharajpur area, to offer condolences. The family has strong political ties, with relatives including BJP leader Shailendra Dwivedi and close associations with UP Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana. Mahana confirmed speaking to Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor to assess the situation, vowing a “strong response to the cowardly act.”
Shubham belonged to a family with deep-rooted political influence his grandfather Chandan Prasad Dwivedi served as Hathipur’s village head for 18 years, while uncles held leadership roles until 2005. The Dwivedis operate the Chandan Chakki Pratishtan, a well-known social organization in the region.
Authorities have not yet identified the terror group behind the attack. Security forces are investigating whether the assailants specifically targeted Hindu tourists, as indicated by the religious interrogation. Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified patrols in Pahalgam, a popular destination for pilgrim-tourists en route to Amarnath.
Eshanya’s account underscores the human cost of terrorism, with her final memory being her husband’s bloodied body as she was forcibly evacuated. The incident has reignited debates about tourist safety in conflict zones.
