In a deeply emotional moment at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday, the wife of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal bid a tearful farewell to her husband’s mortal remains. Lieutenant Narwal was among the victims of the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that left the nation mourning.
Lieutenant Narwal, just 26 years old and a resident of Karnal in Haryana, was enjoying his first trip with his wife to Kashmir when terrorists opened fire on tourists. The couple had tied the knot barely a week ago, with their wedding ceremony on April 16 and reception celebrated on April 19.
In a heart-wrenching testimony, his wife revealed, "We were just having bhelpuri when the terrorist shot my husband. They said he was not a Muslim and killed him." Her trembling words captured the horror of the attack that shattered countless lives.
Earlier in the day, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid their respects to the fallen officer. Lieutenant Narwal’s body is being transported to his hometown Karnal, where he will receive full military honors during the final rites.
Defense officials confirmed that Narwal had joined the Indian Navy two years ago after completing his engineering degree and clearing competitive exams to become a Class One officer. Known for his dedication and bright future, his death has left his colleagues and neighbors devastated.
Neighbors shared that the couple had initially planned a honeymoon in Switzerland but chose Kashmir instead due to Narwal’s limited leave. "It’s like an evil eye struck them," lamented a family friend, recalling the grand celebrations that had just taken place in Karnal.
Witnesses revealed another chilling detail — the terrorists told Narwal’s wife they were sparing her so she could go and "tell Modi what happened." The Pahalgam attack, which targeted innocent tourists, has so far claimed at least 28 lives, including two foreign nationals.