Terror Strikes Home: Karnataka Mourns Victims of Jammu and Kashmir Attack
The remains of two Karnataka natives, slain in a terror assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, were brought to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, on Thursday.
Manjunath Rao and Bharath Bhushan were among 26 civilians fatally shot by militants on Tuesday.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah extended condolences to Bhushan’s grieving family, stating, “On behalf of the state and 7 crore Kannadigas, I offer heartfelt sympathies. Bhushan, just 40, was an MBA graduate. This is a tragic loss. I vehemently denounce this barbaric act.”
Condemning terrorism, he asserted, “Eradicating terrorism is a governmental obligation. We fully back the Centre and urge decisive action to eliminate such threats.”
Highlighting the brutality, he said, “Innocents had gone for a visit. In front of his spouse and child, Bhushan was gunned down. Such acts lack any trace of humanity.”
Recalling the Pulwama massacre, Siddaramaiah called for intensified anti-terror operations and criticized intelligence failures, noting the loss of two more lives — Manjunath from Shivamogga and an Andhra Pradesh native living in Karnataka.
Ministers Madhu Bangarappa and Ramalinga Reddy were assigned to support the victims’ families, and ₹10 lakh compensation was announced for each bereaved family.
Meanwhile, Union Minister V Somanna and MP Tejasvi Surya escorted the bodies home. Surya pledged a strong counter-response from the government.
The third victim, S Madhusudhan from Andhra Pradesh, was returned to Chennai, where an emotional farewell was witnessed as his son embraced the coffin, whispering, “I love you nana.”
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