Pahalgam massacre: Techie targeted on bus, asked to read Quran, strip, killed
Madhusudhan Rao
left Bengaluru Sunday with his wife, daughter and son. By Tuesday evening, news of his death in the
terror attack
in Pahalgam reached his stunned neighbours in Riches Garden Layout, Bengaluru.
'He said he'd be back Friday,' said Babu Venu, a neighbour and friend of 15 years. 'He didn't tell us where he was going. It was just summer holidays… None of us imagined this.'
Rao, a software engineer with IBM, was shot dead by terrorists who boarded the bus he was travelling in with his wife Kamakshi Prasanna, daughter Medhasree, son Sridatta.
Police said the attackers asked him his name and religion. When he responded 'Muslim,' they asked him to read from the Quran. He said he'd forgotten. They then asked him to
strip
. He refused and was shot.
Originally from Kavali in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, Rao lived in Riches Layout, Rammurthynagar, for more than a decade. His wife works with an IT company. The children are aged 17 and 12.
'He was a gem,' said Venu. 'Jovial, honest. He never spoke badly about anyone. He was someone you wouldn't see unhappy.'
Residents are planning a candlelight vigil and walk in his honour on Thursday. 'We were saddened when we heard the news,' said Malthesh of the Riches Garden Welfare and Cultural Association.
'We learnt from Babu about the incident (who in turn found out about it from the media). Madhusudhan was active in our community—always involved in Ganeshotsava and Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations.'
Rao's body was being taken to his hometown. Ten people from Rao's neighbourhood also left for Nellore. 'We're a small, closeknit community here,' said Venu. 'It's hard to believe he's gone.'
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They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : jammu and kashmir view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 18, 2025, 15:05 IST News opinion Right Word | The True Story Behind 'Kashmir Martyr's Day' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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