Anantnag: The family of Muzamil, a zipline operator accused of shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the Pahalgam terror attack, has defended him, stating he was terrified and had no ill intentions. Muzamil is currently in police custody.

“Right now, Muzamil is with the police. He was very scared, he started crying at that time. He said, ‘Don’t say anything to me, something happened here,’” said his father, Abdul Aziz.

Addressing the viral video where Muzamil is heard shouting “Allahu Akbar”, Abdul Aziz said, “Even if the storm comes, we say Allahu Akbar. What fault do we have in this? Muzamil used to work only with the zipline; he didn’t do any other work.”

He emphasised that his son was simply doing his job and had no connection to the attack.

Congress MP calls for investigation

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari called for a thorough probe into the viral video in which a tourist alleged that the zipline operator shouted religious slogans just before the terror attack began.

“This is a matter of investigation. I have also seen that video. There should be an investigation into it... The truth should come out... No security force was deployed there... Everyone except the Indian Government knew that tourists in large numbers are coming there (in Pahalgam),” Tiwari said.

Tourist shares shocking account of attack

A video of Gujarat-based tourist Rishi Bhatt went viral on social media, showing him enjoying a ziplining activity in Pahalgam when the firing started. Bhatt has claimed that the operator shouted “Allahu Akbar” thrice before the shooting began.

“Nine people ziplined before me, but the operator did not utter a word. When I was sliding, he spoke, and then the firing started. So, I have my suspicions about that man. He said ‘Allahu Akbar’ thrice and then the firing started... He looked like a regular Kashmiri,” Bhatt alleged.

“Firing started when I was ziplining... After about 20 seconds, I realised that it was a terrorist attack... and people on the ground are being killed,” he told ANI. “I saw 5–6 people getting shot.”

Tourists fled for safety

Bhatt said he managed to escape the site with his family. “I unlatched my belt and jumped down, took my wife and son and started running away. We saw people hiding in a spot that resembled a pit, making it difficult to spot them easily. We too hid there,” he added.

Deadly attack in Pahalgam

The terror attack occurred on 22 April at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, where terrorists opened fire on tourists. The incident claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, leaving several others injured.

Following the attack, the Central Government vowed strict action against those responsible, stating that both the attackers and their conspirators would face severe consequences.

ANI inputs