Bhopal, April 23: An officer of Life Insurance Company (LIC) hailing from Indore in Madhya Pradesh and a businessman from Raipur in Chhattisgarh were among the 28 slain people in Tuesday’s cold-blooded massacre of tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, by the terrorists.
Sushil Nathaniel (58), who was posted as the branch manager of a LIC branch in Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh was visiting Pahalgam along with his wife, daughter and son to observe Easter when the terrorists stormed the spot and sprayed bullets on them.
His daughter also received bullet injuries in the attack, official reports reaching here said on Wednesday.
The LIC officer was asked by the terrorists to recite Kalma to ascertain if he was a Muslim and they then shot him dead when he failed to do so, his family members said.
His daughter was admitted to the hospital in the area and his widow and son were by her side, official reports reaching here said.
“Mr. Sushil Nathaniel from Indore was killed in Tuesday’s terrorist attack at Pahalgam. His daughter was also injured in the incident. We are trying to do whatever is best for her recovery. His mortal remains will be brought to his home in Indore either on Wednesday night or Thursday”, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav said.
He said the country stands united with the family members of the victims of the terrorist attack and a befitting reply would be given to the culprits and their mastermind in Pakistan at appropriate time.
A businessman hailing from Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Dinesh Mirania, was also among those killed in Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Chhattisgarh finance minister O P Choudhury said Mirania was visiting Pahalgam along with his wife and children when the terrorists attacked the tourists.
Earlier, it was reported that the businessman was injured but it was later learnt that he was killed in the attack.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said “Terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity and it cannot be accepted in any form”.
Meanwhile, the Pahalgam incident triggered outrage across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with protests erupting in the two states over it.
People were seen burning the national flag of Pakistan and shouting slogans against the neighboring country holding it responsible for the attack.