A heartbreaking story has come to light from the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 people were killed, including a man named Sushil Nathaniel, who worked as a manager at LIC in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Sushil, 58, had gone to Kashmir with his wife, daughter, and son to celebrate Easter, a joyful Christian festival. However, what was meant to be a peaceful family vacation turned into a nightmare.
What Happened During the Attack?
According to family members, terrorists stopped Sushil and asked him his name. They then forced him to kneel and told him to recite the “Kalma”, an Islamic declaration of faith. Sushil, being a Christian, said he couldn’t recite it. After that, they shot him dead.
His daughter Akanksha, 35, rushed toward him in fear. The terrorists then shot her in the leg. She is currently being treated in a hospital in Jammu & Kashmir. His wife Jennifer (54) and son Austin (Goldie) (25) survived, but they are in deep shock.
Nathanial was born in Indore, and belonged to a Christian family. He was married to Jennifer, a government school teacher in Khatiapura, and together they raised two children: Akanksha, a Class I officer at the Bank of Baroda in Surat, and Austin, a badminton player.
What the Family is Saying
- Sanjay Kumrawat, Sushil’s cousin, spoke to his wife and son, who witnessed the horrifying attack. He said the family wants strictest punishment for the terrorists.
- Indu Dawar, his cousin sister, confirmed the terrorists asked Sushil about his religion before killing him. She said, “We want justice for our brother.”
- Gemma Vikas, another relative, added that the trip was meant to be a celebration of Easter, but it ended in mourning and pain.
Government Response
- Indore Collector Ashish Singh visited the family and said that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, is personally monitoring the situation.
- The Jammu and Kashmir administration is also in touch with the family.
- Sushil’s body will be flown back to Indore, and his daughter will receive full treatment.
“He had been posted in Alirajpur about two years ago and his colleagues also loved him. He would always stay connected with his friends and had a jolly nature,” he said.
A native of Jobat in Alirajpur, Mr. Sushil moved to Indore about 30 years ago and was currently living in the city’s Veena Nagar area.
Meanwhile, Jemma Nathaniel, Mr. Vikas’s wife, said that the terrorists had asked his religion and asked him to recite verses from Islamic scripture.
This is not just an attack on one man or one family, but a blow to the peace and spirit of tourism and unity in India. The family has asked for strong action so that such cowardly acts of terror never happen again. The entire country mourns with the family and demands justice for the innocent lives lost.
