I have two brothers in Kashmir now: Daughter of Kochiite killed in Pahalgam terror attack

Time of India

25-04-2025

KOCHI: In the aftermath of the
Pahalgam terror attack
that claimed her father
N Ramachandran
's life,
Arati R Menon
returned home to
Kochi
carrying both heartbreak and gratitude - for the strangers who became like family.
"I have two brothers in
Kashmir
now," she told the media on Thursday, referring to two local Kashmiris who stood by her through the darkest hours.
"My driver Musafir and his friend Samir treated me like their own sister. They didn't take any money. My jacket was torn, and Musafir gave me his jacket, which I wore through the night. They stood by me through everything - took me to the mortuary, helped with the formalities..." Arati said.
Air warrior Tage Hailyang among 26 killed in Pahalgam Terror Attack; IAF mourns loss
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"The local people were the most helpful. They were giving water and helping the survivors of the attack. They said, 'Didi, we are Kashmiris, we are not terrorists.' I want the world to know this. These people are not terrorists. We should not generalise... We are all Indians," she said.
Recounting how their family outing in Pahalgam turned into a nightmare, she said: "It was a beautiful day. We went on a pony ride to Baisaran. It was only my father, myself and my twin boys. My mother stayed back in the car as she couldn't manage the pony ride."
'Hugged dad after they shot him'
Arati said they had reached a fenced-in area when she first heard gunshots. 'I asked my Acha (father) about it, and he said, 'Nothing will happen.' Then I heard a second shot and saw a spark. I told Acha, 'It's a terrorist attack'...'
She said they tried to escape into the woods, but a gunman appeared and shot a man in front of them. 'The gunman asked us to lie down. We followed his orders. Then he came and said something that sounded like kalma. I said, 'Pata nahin' (don't know) and asked if he could speak English. That's when he shot my father. I immediately hugged my father. The gunman pointed the gun at my head, maybe to scare me. My twins started screaming and then he left us.'
What followed was a desperate attempt to survive and ensure her children's safety. 'As a mother, my immediate response was to protect my children. My father was gone. I couldn't save him, but I had to save my kids. I took his phone and ran with the children into a marshy area. I kept his wallet with him in case his body needed to be identified later.'
Guided by the hoofprints of ponies, the trio eventually found their way back to wards the town. 'I called our driver and told him about the terror attack. I said, 'No one is here to help,' and asked him to inform the police, the Army, or whoever he could. Within five minutes, the Army rushed to the location.'
Despite the trauma, Arati withheld the news of her father's death from her mother. 'I told Amma that we ran in different directions and I didn't know where he was — just to keep her strong until we got back. I only told her the truth after we landed in Kochi on Wednesday evening.'
Higher education minister R Bindu was among those who visited the family's home to offer condolences on Thursday. According to family members, a public homage will be held at Changampuzha Park on Friday morning and the cremation will take place at Edappally public crematorium.