India was shaken on April 22 by a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people lost their lives and several others were injured as gunmen opened fire on tourists. In a shocking development after the incident, model Ekta Tiwari from Jaunpur claimed that she unknowingly came into contact with two of the suspected terrorists during her recent trip to the region. According to her, the men—whose sketches were later released by security agencies—had posed as mule handlers and interacted with her group during their family vacation. Ekta had returned home just two days before the attack occurred.
Speaking to a news portal, Ekta recalled an eerie sense of discomfort she felt around the mule handlers, prompting her to secretly record videos of them. “We left Pahalgam on April 21. Now, after seeing the sketches released by the authorities, I realise I had a close brush with death,” she said, recounting the disturbing turn of events during what was meant to be a peaceful holiday.
Ekta explained that what began as a routine booking for a mule ride quickly turned unsettling. Having arranged the ride through a local contact, she was surprised when unfamiliar individuals showed up instead. “Two unknown men came along with the mule handler. They started asking me about Ajmer. I told them I had never been there. Then they began questioning me about Amarnath Yatra – how many people had come, what our religion was, etc. I was scared and didn’t reveal the truth. They also asked personal questions about my husband and marriage. Then they asked if I read the Quran and what religion I follow more. One even claimed to be a Quran teacher,” she recounted.
The trip, which had started on April 13 with a visit to Vaishno Devi and continued through Sonmarg and Srinagar before reaching Pahalgam on April 20, took a darker turn as the men became more aggressive. Ekta claimed they tried to coerce her group into visiting Baisaran Valley with them. “They insisted on taking us to Baisaran Valley, but we didn’t go. They were angry and misbehaved with us. We even have videos of the incident. More than half of our group returned early. Out of the sketches released, I recognise one of the terrorists,” she revealed.
Adding to the disturbing experience, Ekta said the men made derogatory remarks about her faith and religious practices. “These individuals misbehaved with me for not reading the Quran and for wearing a rudraksha mala,” she stated. She also alleged that one of the mule handlers was hiding a keypad phone inside his shoe, an observation that now seems more sinister in light of recent events.
Upon returning home, Ekta wasted no time in taking action. She reported her experience through the CM Helpline (1076) and informed a relative who serves in the CISF. Reflecting on her close encounter, she said, “It’s terrifying to think we were so close to danger. I strongly feel that people with such extreme ideologies should not be allowed to mingle with tourists or hide in plain sight.”
Ekta’s account underscores the hidden dangers that can lurk even during ordinary travel experiences and adds another chilling layer to the tragic events that unfolded in Pahalgam.
