Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra and MLA S.N. Channabasappa met the family and relatives of Manjunath Rao in Shivamogga on April 22. Manjunath Rao was killed by terrorists at Pahalgam in Kashmir.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Amidst continuous visits of politicians and officials, a sense of silence has filled ‘Manjushree’, the house of Manjunath Rao at Vijaya Nagar in Shivamogga, Karnataka. Mr. Rao was killed on April 22 in the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
People gathered at the house were talking about when the mortal remains of Manjunath Rao would reach Shivamogga while his aged mother, Sumathi, struggles to digest the hard truth.
Also read | Pahalgam terror attack LIVE
The relatives of Manjunath Rao heard about his death around 3 p.m. on April 22. However, the relatives avoided informing his mother about the death, and ensured that the television remained turned off. She sensed something was wrong as the number of people visiting the place increased.
Manjunath Rao with his wife Pallavi. Manjunath Rao was killed by terrorists at Pahalgam in Kashmir.
| Photo Credit:
Video Grab
Elected representatives and police officials reached the place, which caused concern about the safety of her son and his family who were away in Jammu and Kashmir. She asked the relatives around if everything was fine, and enquired when Manju and his family would return.
Family was celebrating son clearing II PU exams
Manjunath, a realtor, is the only son of Sumathi, who lost her husband two years ago. Her daughter lives in Tirthahalli. Relatives waited till evening so that her daughter could reach the place and convey the news to her mother. Only after the old woman had dinner was she informed about the tragic incident.
Two from Karnataka among those killed in terrorist attack in Pahalgam
Two persons from Karnataka — one from Shivamogga and another from Bengaluru — were among the tourists who died in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
Manjunath left for the trip on April 19, with wife Pallavi R., who works for the Malnad Area Marketing Cooperative Society, and son Abhijan, 18. They planned the trip through a private travel agency. They were celebrating, as Abhijan had cleared the II PUC had secured 97% in the commerce stream.
They shared photos and video clips during their visit to different places in the Kashmir valleys before reaching Pahalgam. Hours before the terror attack, Manjunath had called one of his uncles over the phone to convey his wishes on his marriage anniversary. They were scheduled to return on April 24. However, the terrorists turned the celebratory trip into a tragedy.
Geetha, Manjunath Rao’s mother-in-law, still in shock over the tragic death, wanted to know why the government of India allowed tourists to visit Kashmir if the place was not safe for visitors. “We told him not to go, as Kashmir has been known for disturbance. However, he insisted that many people had been visiting the place in recent days, and argued that it was safe to visit the valley now. We feel he should have listened to us,” she said. “The government should have taken enough measures for the safety of visitors,” she added.
‘Why did government allow tourists if it could not protect them?’
Sagar MLA Beluru Gopala Krishna, who met the family on April 23 morning, said, “Why did the government allow tourists if it could not protect them? During previous terror attacks, the Central Government assured the people that it would ensure peace and take strong measures to avoid such incidents. But the government has failed to protect its citizens. Who will take the blame now?”
Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa, who is also the minister in charge of Shivamogga, met the family members and conveyed his condolences. He told Sumathi and other family members that the government would stand with them and make necessary arrangements to bring the mortal remains of Manjunath to Shivamogga. He told mediapersons that the mortal remains would reach Shivamogga by early morning on April 24.
Former minister Kimmane Ratnakar also met the family. He opined that the nation should stand united when such incidents happen and put pressure on the government of India to take steps to avoid terror attacks in Kashmir in future.
Published – April 23, 2025 02:01 pm IST
Anurag Dhole is a seasoned journalist and content writer with a passion for delivering timely, accurate, and engaging stories. With over 8 years of experience in digital media, she covers a wide range of topics—from breaking news and politics to business insights and cultural trends. Jane's writing style blends clarity with depth, aiming to inform and inspire readers in a fast-paced media landscape. When she’s not chasing stories, she’s likely reading investigative features or exploring local cafés for her next writing spot.
- ANURAG DHOLEhttps://indiatadkha.com/author/bitlancetechhubgmail-com/
- ANURAG DHOLEhttps://indiatadkha.com/author/bitlancetechhubgmail-com/
- ANURAG DHOLEhttps://indiatadkha.com/author/bitlancetechhubgmail-com/
- ANURAG DHOLEhttps://indiatadkha.com/author/bitlancetechhubgmail-com/
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