Videos of Naksh Kalathiya, a 10-year-old boy who lost his father in the Pahalgam terror attack, have gone viral, drawing both admiration and criticism online. The child’s calm demeanor while facing probing media questions has touched many hearts, but it has also raised ethical concerns about involving a grieving minor in public discourse.
In one of the videos, reporters ask Naksh if he would ever visit Pahalgam again. “No,” he replies quietly, later asking why no one knew about the terrorists despite the presence of Army personnel in the area. This 35-second clip has been reshared over 74,000 times.
Some netizens, however, expressed concern. “Spare the child… he is lost in his feelings, remembering his father…” wrote a user. Another added, “Why traumatize him now, asking questions in media glare… let him grieve.”
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Reporter : Do you want to say anything to the Govt?
Kid : I have no hopes from the Govt, they have no idea, they not even provided minimum security at such a tourist place ?#PahalgamTerroristAttack
— ?eena Jain (@DrJain21) April 24, 2025
Naksh Recalls Horrific Details of Attack
Naksh is the son of Shailesh Kalathiya, a 44-year-old SBI manager from Mumbai, who was on holiday with his family when terrorists opened fire, killing 26. In an ANI interview, Naksh said:
“We were at the ‘mini Switzerland’ point in Pahalgam when we heard gunshots. We hid, but they found us. I heard one of them ordered all the men to separate into Muslims and Hindus, and then shot all the Hindu men.”
He further added, “The terrorists asked men to recite ‘Kalma’ three times. And all those who couldn’t were shot dead.”
Naksh described one of the gunmen as fair-skinned, bearded, and wearing a camera on his head. “They spared the women and the children,” he said.
Mother Demands Accountability
Naksh’s mother, Shital Kalathiya, broke down during the funeral when Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil visited. She accused the government of failing to provide basic security.
“There was not a single military man present at the tourist spot in Pahalgam, which had a large number of tourists, and there were no medical facilities either,” Shital said in a video now circulating widely.
Her emotional outburst echoed the public sentiment calling for justice, better protection for civilians, and accountability from the authorities.
