INDORE: In a Hamas-style attack, terrorists shot dead tourists in Pahalgam while recording the act with head-mounted cameras and taking casual selfies with the bleeding bodies. Austen Nathaniel, one of the survivors who returned home to Indore with his father’s body, described his 22 April ordeal.
The attackers appeared to be ‘very young and disturbingly casual’. “They were taking selfies. They had cameras mounted on their heads, like they were here to film everything,” Austen said at Juni Indore cemetery on Thursday after laying his father Sushil Nathaniel to rest.
“They asked if we were Muslims, and whoever said no was shot,” he said.
Recalling the traumatic moments, Austen said, “Right in front of me, they shot six people. They only asked one question—‘Are you a Muslim?’ If someone said yes, they were asked to recite the Kalma. Even after that, they were told to take off their pants to prove if they were circumcised. If they weren’t, they were shot on the spot.”
Sushil Nathaniel, a well-respected figure in his community, was one of the many innocent civilians targeted in this hate-fuelled assault.
His family, friends, and local residents gathered on Wednesday to bid him a tearful farewell.
Before this, Sushil’s final journey began from his residence at B-68, Veena Nagar. His mortal remains were transported in a special vehicle to the Nanda Nagar Church, where a prayer service was held before proceeding to the cemetery.
At his home, an emotional tribute was paid to Sushil. His wife, Jennifer, clung to his coffin and wept inconsolably. His father appeared devastated.
The funeral was attended by family members, relatives, friends, and several prominent figures including Minister Tulsi Silawat, Congress State President Jitu Patwari, BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola, BJP district president Sumit Mishra, and Congress district president Surjit Singh Chaddha.
