Who was Syed Adil Hussain Shah? Muslim tour guide who died heroically in Pahalgam

Mourners say the pony handler gave his life to protect the tourists.

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In the aftermath of the deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), while Indian media primarily focused on the casualties and geopolitical tensions, the story of Syed Adil Hussain Shah's bravery has been underplayed, despite his heroic actions.

Adil, a Muslim, was caught in the crossfire during the assault on tourists.

His self-sacrifice, however, adds a nuanced layer to the often one-sided portrayal of Muslims in the region, who are frequently linked to violence in media narratives.

On April 18, 2025, the attack, which killed 26 tourists and left many others injured, saw Adil step forward to protect those in danger.

According to eyewitnesses, he attempted to disarm one of the attackers during the assault, ultimately losing his life in the process. His actions, though tragically resulting in his death, saved several tourists.

Despite the horrific nature of the attack, which involved at least four gunmen, Adil’s death has not been widely recognized in the national media.

This has raised concerns about the selective attention given to his heroic actions, especially in a climate where Muslims in Kashmir are often stereotyped negatively.

During a visit to Adil’s funeral, IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the local heroism, stating, “He tried to stop the attack,... We’ve heard he was targeted after trying to disarm one of the terrorists. The government will stand by this family.”

Adil, in his early 30s, worked as a pony handler, earning Rs 300 a day to ferry tourists around Pahalgam.

He was saving money for his sisters’ weddings. His father, Syed Haider Hussain Shah, described him as a dedicated worker and expressed his shock upon hearing the news of his son’s tragic death.

“He was a hardworking boy,... We didn’t even know until evening that he was among the dead.”

Adil's cousin, Md Hussain, expressed dismay at the limited national attention given to his relative’s death. “This is a blot on Kashmiriyat,” he said. “People should know who gave their life to save others.”

While a formal investigation is still underway to verify the sequence of events, Adil’s death has left a lasting impact on his community.

Earlier this week, at least 26 tourists were killed and dozens injured on Tuesday after gunmen opened fire in a popular resort town in IIOJK. The attack took place on Tuesday in Pahalgam, around 90km from Srinagar, the region's main city.

According to Indian police, the assailants ambushed a group of tourists, firing at close range. The attack also left more than three dozen people wounded, many of whom remain in critical condition. No group has claimed responsibility for the assault so far, according to Al Jazeera.

Two senior police officers told The Associated Press that at least four gunmen were involved. Most of the victims were Indian tourists, officials confirmed.

India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full, with a part of it is under the illegal occupation of New Delhi the remaining part is A small sliver of the region is also controlled by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, New Delhi and Islamabad have engaged military several times including in 1948, 1965 1971 and 1999. Three of these conflicts were fought over Kashmir.

Since 1989, some Kashmiri groups have been waging an armed struggle against Indian occupation with the aim of seeking independence, or unification with Pakistan.

Many Muslim Kashmiris support the cause of independence or reunification.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is terrorism. However, Pakistan along with many Kashmiris consider the resistance as a legitimate freedom struggle.

Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

On Aug. 5, 2019 the Indian government revoked Article 370 and other related provisions from its Constitution, scrapping the country’s only Muslim-majority state with its autonomy.

It was also split into two federally administered territories.