A deep pall of sorrow hangs over Kanpur as news of the death of Shubham Dwivedi, a young man from the city killed in the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, spreads through his locality.
The 28-year-old, who had gone to the Valley for a short vacation with his wife, was shot in the head by terrorists in a brutal assault that claimed over two dozen civilian lives. Shubham had only recently stepped into a new chapter of his life—he was married on February 12 this year. The attack has left not just his family, but an entire neighborhood in mourning.
“He was full of life, always ready to help everyone,” said Rajesh Sinha, a neighbour who had known Shubham since childhood.
“We just attended his wedding celebrations in February. Who knew that we would be attending his funeral so soon?”
Locals gathered outside Shubham’s home in Govind Nagar on Wednesday morning, many in tears, as they awaited updates from the family.
Some lit candles in the evening and held a silent prayer for the departed soul.
“Shubham was like a son to all of us. His death feels like a personal loss,” said Sunita Verma, an elderly woman who lives two houses away from the Dwivedis.
“His wife is in shock. We just want her to know that the entire mohalla stands with her.” Shubham’s cousin Saurabh Dwivedi said the terrorists had allegedly asked names before opening fire.
“My sister-in-law called my uncle and said Shubham was shot in the head. We have been told the body will be handed over in a couple of days after official procedures,” he said.
The incident has triggered outrage and sorrow in equal measure. Local social groups have demanded that the government take strict action against terror outfits responsible for the attack.
“This is not just about Shubham. He
represents every Indian civilian who dares to dream, travels for peace, and falls
victim to mindless violence,” said Shailendra Mishra, a local youth activist who plans to hold a peace march in Shubham’s memory.
The attack, which took place in Pahalgam, has been attributed to a group with suspected links to Lashkar-e-Taiba. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site and assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
As the Dwivedi family prepares to receive Shubham’s mortal remains, Kanpur stands united in grief—remembering a young life snatched away too soon, and demanding that such bloodshed never be repeated again.
Meanwhile, Prime Narendra Modi has cancelled the programme scheduled in Kanpur on April 24 in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack where 26 people were gunned down.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Kanpur on April 24 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for
development projects worth over `20,000 crore.
However, in light of the recent terror attack that claimed a number of lives, including that of Shubham, who hails from Kanpur, the event has been
cancelled.