"Should be punished severely; nation is with victims' families": Karnataka Speaker on Pahalgam terror attack

Shivamogga (Karnataka) [India], April 26 (ANI): Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader has called for strict punishment against those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that the entire country stands with the victims' families.
"That day was a painful day for this family. In that incident, three people from Karnataka lost their lives... We are with those families; the entire state and the country are with them. We cannot take away the pain of the families, but we are trying to minimise it... We, the people of India, want those who have committed this terror act to be punished severely, and not only the terrorists but also whoever is behind them," Khader told ANI on Friday after meeting the family of Manjunath Rao, who was killed in the attack.
The final rites for Manjunath Rao were held on Thursday in Shivamogga, with Union Minister Prahlad Joshi present to offer his condolences.
Rao, who was on a family vacation as part of a tour package, was shot dead when terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists on April 22, killing 26 people, including a Nepali citizen.
His wife, Pallavi Manjunath, said that it was a bad dream and it should not happen to any family.
During the last rites of her husband, Pallavi said, "It should be a bad dream, I should wake up from it. This should not happen to any of the family. They (terrorists) were targeting only men."
Manjunath's family friend, Dattatreya, described the loss as deeply personal.
"It is very unfortunate that we lost our best friend Manjunath...The terrorists attacked him brutally...The government should take serious steps against this brutal attack by terrorists," he said.
Following the attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) took several key measures, including five decisions, as well as the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty. (ANI)