Pahalgam attack: Sarhad Pune pledges free education for rescuers' children

Srinagar, April 25: In recognition of their extraordinary courage and timely response, Sarhad Pune has announced to educate at least 100 children of all those Kashmiri individuals who came forward, risking their own lives, to rescue tourists during the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said.

As per an announcement made by Sarhad Pune, the children will be provided free education up to 12th standard in Sarhad-run schools at Dardpora and Aragam. Hostel facilities will be provided at these locations within the next six months, and higher education will be arranged in Pune.

The entire cost of education, accommodation, and related expenses will be borne by Sarhad Pune, it added.

This announcement was made by Mushtaq Khoja, Administrator of Sarhad Public School, Dardpora, and Shailesh Wadekar, Trustee of Sarhad Pune. Founder of Sarhad, Sanjay Nahar, expressed hope that such actions will continue to build peace and strengthen the bonds between Maharashtra and Kashmir.

This initiative will be led by Zahid Bhat, Adil Mir, Aqib Bhat, Mushtaq Khoja, and Siraj Uddin Khan — all of whom have themselves studied in Pune under Sarhad's care and are now committed to giving back to their community.

Notably, in the wake of the recent terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam o April 22 that left 26 dead, and several others injured, the brave timely response of local Kashmiri youth, many of whom were educated in Maharashtra through the Sarhad Pune initiative, have brought a ray of hope and humanity. Despite the tragic loss of innocent lives, including some from Maharashtra, these youth stepped forward without regard to religion or region to assist the stranded tourists.

As soon as news of the attack broke, former students of Sarhad Pune such as Adil Mir, Nasir Mir, Zahid Bhat, Javed Wani, and Aqib Bhat, rushed to help. They provided food, emotional support, medical assistance, and even arranged transport to the airport for affected tourists. A dedicated helpline was also launched to coordinate these efforts. Their gesture not only helped ensure the safety of tourists but also left a lasting impression about the real spirit of Kashmir and its people.