Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday paid heartfelt tribute to Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a young pony handler who lost his life while courageously attempting to protect tourists during the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Describing Shah’s bravery, Shinde recounted how the 24-year-old tried to snatch a terrorist’s gun in an effort to shield innocent lives. “This is not about caste or religion. Adil risked everything to save the tourists being shot at. He tried to wrest the gun away from the attacker, but another terrorist shot him,” Shinde said.
Recognizing the Shah family’s financial struggles—Adil was the sole breadwinner—Shinde announced that Shiv Sena would provide ₹5 lakh in assistance and construct a new home for the family. “His house was in a bad condition, and we’ve taken up the responsibility of rebuilding it,” he added.
Adil’s father, Hyder Shah, expressed both grief and pride in his son’s martyrdom. Fighting back tears, he said, “I am proud of his shahadat. That pride is the only reason I am still standing. Otherwise, seeing his lifeless body would have ended me.”
Adil’s mother, devastated by the loss of her eldest son and the family’s only source of income, mourned his absence. “He earned ₹300 a day. We bought rice in the evening and shared our meal. Now, who will bring food? Who will bring medicines?” she said in anguish.
Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s selfless bravery has become a symbol of resilience amid one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Security operations are currently underway to track down the perpetrators of the attack.