'I was saved as I could recite the kalma': Pahalgam survivor recalls how he escaped terrorists

A professor from Assam has recalled how he survived the Pahalgam terrorist attack by reciting the ‘kalma’.

As terrorists were singling out non-Muslims to kill them, Debasish Bhattacharyaa of Assam University, Silchar, recited the ‘kalma’, an Islamic verse, and escaped after convincing the terrorists that he was a Muslim.

In the Pahalgam attack, terrorists singled out non-Muslims by asking people to recite ‘kalma’ and checking them for circumcision, according to sources.

‘Kalma’ in Islam is a declaration of faith and serves as the allegiance to God. Those who could not recite it were deemed non-Muslims and were shot. Similarly, circumcision is a common practice among Muslims and those who were not circumcised were deemed to be non-Muslims and were shot.

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‘I was saved as I could recite kalma’

Bhattacharyaa told News 18 Assam that he was sleeping under a tree when he heard everyone around him reciting kalma.

After getting up, Bhattacharyaa said that he also started reciting kalma.

“I was sleeping under a tree with my family when I heard everyone beside me reciting Kalima. I too started to recite the Kalima. Then one of terrorist in camouflaged fatigues came near me and shot the person besides me on his head. Then he stooped to me and asked ‘kya Kar Rahe ho (what are you doing)’. I recited the Kalima even louder. I don’t know why. He then moved away,” said Bhattacharyaa, an Associate Professor at the Department of Bengali at Assam University.

Once the terrorist moved away, Bhattacharyaa said that he and his family walked for two hours to get away from the site of the attack.

“Seeking the opportunity, I walked uphill along with my wife and son. I crossed the fence and walked for around two hours following the hoof marks of the horse.
Then we got a horse with the rider and rode back to our hotel. I still cannot believe that I am alive,” said Bhattacharya.

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Terrorists killed at least 26 people in the attack in Baisaran area of Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the victims were tourists. The area was brimming with tourists who were taking joyrides on ponies and thronging the eateries at the time of the attack.

Four to six terrorists are believed to have been involved in the attacks. Their sketches as well as photos have surfaced in media reports.

The Resistance Front (TRF), which is believed to be an offshoot of Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) , has claimed responsibility for the attack.