“Annihilate Pakistan, wipe out terrorism”, Gujarat victims' family hail Operation Sindoor

RAJKOT/SURAT: "Annihilate Pakistan and wipe out terrorism," declared the families of three Gujarat victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Their voices were heavy with grief, yet laced with a sense of justice over Operation Sindoor, India's reprisal to Pakistan over the dastardly April 22 strike.

Yatish Parmar, aged 46, and his 17-year-old son from Bhavnagar, along with Surat banker Shailesh Kalathiya, were among the 26 tourists killed in the Baisaran valley carnage.

Kajal Parmar, Yatish's widow, said, "We salute the armed forces and urge the govt to be unsparing against Pakistan till Pakistan is wiped out."

Talking to the media, Kajal said, "I am very proud of the air strike carried out on Pakistan. I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and very happy today. Keep carrying out such attacks and wipe out Pakistan, this is my prayer to Modi Saheb."

"My son was in Class 12. He used to tell me frequently that he wanted to join the Indian Army and fight for the country. But before that, we went to Kashmir to attend Morari Bapu's 'Ram Katha' and visit Pahalgam, where they (terrorists) killed my son and husband. I want to see Pakistan destroyed completely," she added.

"I have seen my son lying in a pool of blood and my husband lying beside him with a bullet shot in his head. I pray that no one ever falls victim to such a gruesome terror attack," she said.

Kajal added, "Barely five minutes after we entered the Baisaran valley, there was firing in the air. My uncle screamed, asking everyone to run for cover. I had just reached the entrance gate and someone told us all to lie down on the ground. But after some time, when I approached my husband and son, both were dead."

"We are satisfied with India's response but terrorism should be decimated," she said.

Kajal's elder son, Abhishek, added, "PM Modi took decisive action against Pakistan. I lost my father and my brother, who wanted to join the army. Now Modi has given them a befitting reply," he said.

Yatish, a barbering salon owner, went to Kashmir with Kajal and Smit, accompanied by her brother, his wife, and their son Sarthak Nathani. Kajal survived the attack, thanks to Sarthak's, aged 17, presence of mind. "It was over in five minutes. I saw it with my own eyes... they asked our religion before opening fire. Had it not been for my nephew, I wouldn't be alive today."

In Surat, Sheetal, wife of Surat banker Shailesh, told the media that she was ‘very satisfied' with India's action. "I am very happy with whatever the Modi govt has done to bring to justice the people who shot my husband and others in the name of religion. We have full faith in the govt that it will do whatever is right in the future as well."

She said her daughter Niti is yet to recover from the trauma of seeing her father being killed in front of her eyes.

"We were devastated. We appeal to the Gujarat govt to do whatever it can for the future and education of our children."

Kalakhiya, who worked in the Kandivali, Mumbai, branch of SBI, went to Kashmir with Sheetal, daughter Niti, and son Naksh. Kalakhiya was to celebrate his birthday on April 23.