Among the six from Maharashtra, who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam were three men from Dombivali – Sanjay Lele, Hemant Joshi and Atul Mone. Their mortal remains were brought to their home city on Wednesday evening.
Notably, the three families: Lele, Mone and Joshi were relatives. In the attack, the three men were shot dead, while Lele’s son Harshal (20) got a bullet wound on his hand. However, he is stable and stayed strong to communicate to family members back home about the situation in Pahalgam. While, Mone’s wife and daughter were mere 4 feet away from him, when the terrorist shot him.
Shraddha Joshi, a resident of Dombivali, who knew Lele’s family via his relative said, “I learnt that one of the three men, either Joshi, Lele or Mone were asked to recite the Muslim versus. He refused and all three mem were shot by the the terrorist.”
Their last group photo at Pahalgam resort uploaded as WhatsApp status by Hemant Joshi |
The Free Press Journal spoke with deceased Sanjay Lele’s brother, Kaushik Lele. Kaushik is the younger cousin of the big extended Lele family who stayed are staying in Dombivali from three generations. “Dada (brother) was sportsman and was part of big cricket group. A very jolly and kind person. He had a huge friend circle,” said Kaushik, remembering that all cousins ensured to get together during festivals like Ganpati and Diwali.
“Yesterday evening (Tuesday) I got a call from our relative that Sanjay and his family were attacked in Kashmir and that he was dead. I could not believe at first because I was not aware he had gone to Kashmir.”
“I spoke with him few days ago and visited his home last month. I was in Pune for work and wasn’t aware when he and vahini (sister-in-law) had gone to Kashmir. Yesterday I learnt that Sanjay family had gone for the trip three days ago with vahini’s two cousin brothers’ families,” Kaushik said.
“He was the only breadwinner of the family. Vahini does not work. Their son is in last year of BCom. We have to think about the family’s future. We families will decide what further help is needed.”
Notably, Lele’s wife, Kavita (46) had suffered a paralysis attack recently, however, had recovered enough to walk. Thus, after their son’s final exam last week, the left for a eight-day Kashmir trip three days ago.
Kaushik had left on Wednesday morning to Sanjay’s Dombivali home as home was locked and somebody had to open the doors. All Lele cousin’s stay in nearby buildings in Dombivali.
