On April 21, 2026, a day before the first anniversary of the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over a newly constructed house to the family of a ponywallah who was killed in the attack. The house is located in Hapatnar village, about 15 km from Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ponywallah, identified as a local resident, was among seven civilians killed when terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The attack also injured several others. Shinde, who is also the leader of the Shiv Sena, visited the village along with party workers to personally hand over the keys to the family.
The house was built with funds from the Shiv Sena's relief fund, according to party officials. Shinde expressed solidarity with the family and said the gesture was a tribute to the martyr's sacrifice. The family, who had been living in a dilapidated structure, expressed gratitude for the new home.
The 2025 Pahalgam attack was one of the deadliest in the region in recent years, prompting widespread condemnation and a security review. The anniversary has been marked by memorial events across Jammu and Kashmir.
