‘Do not attack Kashmiris and Muslims’: Wife of Pahalgam attack victim

Days after a deadly terror attack in Jammu Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed 26 lives—including Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal—his wife, Himanshi Narwal, has made a heartfelt appeal for unity and peace.Speaking to ANI, Himanshi urged citizens not to direct their anger toward Muslims or Kashmiris. “We don’t want people going against Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace and only peace. Of course, we want justice,” she said, standing firm against communal polarization.

The young couple had been married for just six days, on April 16, and were on their honeymoon when the attack took place on April 22. Himanshi’s statement comes amid growing reports of targeted harassment and violence against Muslims and Kashmiris in the aftermath of the attack.

On April 23, Lieutenant Narwal was given a military farewell at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The solemn ceremony was attended by Navy personnel, grieving family members, and political leaders including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Himanshi, overwhelmed by grief, broke down as she saluted her husband’s coffin. “He made us really proud, and we should continue to uphold that pride in every way,” she said.His last rites were held in his hometown, Karnal, Haryana, where his 21-year-old sister, Shristi Narwal, lit the funeral pyre as thousands gathered to pay their respects.

In the days since the attack, several incidents of violence and discrimination have been reported against Muslims and Kashmiris. In Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, 16 Kashmiri shawl vendors fled after members of the Bajrang Dal allegedly attacked two of them on April 23. Three men were briefly detained and released after issuing an apology.In Mangaluru, Karnataka, a 36-year-old intellectually disabled man named Ashraf, originally from Kerala, was lynched by a mob for allegedly shouting pro-Pakistan slogans during a cricket match. Police have arrested 15 individuals and identified over 25 suspects.Meanwhile in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Congress MLA Arif Masood received death threats from right-wing activist Sachin Raghuvanshi, who accused him of supporting the Pahalgam attackers. A police case has been registered following Raghuvanshi’s threats posted on social media.Himanshi Narwal’s message stands in stark contrast to the spiraling tensions, reminding a grieving nation of the need to uphold peace over hatred.