NEW DELHI: The father of zipline operator Muzammil, who was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” in a viral video moments before the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack began responded to the growing controversy and said that the phrase is a natural expression of faith among Muslims.
“I have not watched the video… We are Muslims, even if the storm comes, we say ‘Allahu Akbar’,” he told news agency PTI, responding to allegations that his son may have had prior knowledge of the attack.
Muzammil, who was operating the zipline at Baisaran meadow when terrorists opened fire on tourists, has since been detained and questioned by the NIA and Jammu & Kashmir Police.
The remarks came after a tourist from Gujarat, Rishi Bhatt, alleged that Muzammil shouted “Allahu Akbar” thrice just before the firing 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… He said ‘Allahu Akbar’ thrice and then the firing started,” Bhatt told ANI.
Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti defended the Allahu Akbar remark by the zipliner and echoed similar remarks saying, “There are some people on social media who are very communal…Like we say, “Jai Shree Ram”, Muslims say “Allahu Akbar” and when we are in any difficulty, we say “Allahu Akbar”…The government of India must take strict action against those who are spewing venom on social media…”
The video, filmed by Bhatt during his zipline ride, captured the chaos as gunshots rang out in the background. It has since gone viral on social media and added a controversial layer to the ongoing investigation into the terror attack that killed 26 tourists, including one Nepalese citizen.
Meanwhile, authorities have summoned all witnesses present at the site and are continuing to probe whether there was any local facilitation of the attack.
The Central government has vowed to punish the perpetrators and their collaborators. In the wake of the incident, it suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, revoked visas for Pakistani citizens (barring diplomatic categories), and closed the Attari border checkpoint.
This has been the deadliest attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing and has sent shockwaves through the tourism sector and local communities in the Valley.