Pahalgam terror attack: Raipur businessman killed on wedding anniversary, say neighbours

Dinesh Mirania.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

 Raipur based businessman Dinesh Mirania was killed by terrorists in Pahalgam on the day of his wedding anniversary, said a cross section of relatives and neighbours of the family.  

Mirania, a resident of Raipur’s Samta Colony and a businessman who dealt in iron, was among the 26 killed in the terrorist attack. 

Atul Agrawal, a neighbour of the Minaria family, said Dinesh along with his wife Neha and two children Shaurya and Rakshita, had left for Jammu and Kashmir on April 17. His wife Sonia had a conversation with Neha a couple of days ago and it was through her that he learnt about the wedding anniversary.

Mr. Agrawal described Mirania as an affable person. He said that the family had attended a religious event organised by a relative in Jammu and then headed to Anantnag where the attack was carried out.

Amar Bansal, a local politician and a distant relative of the Minaria family, said that the religious event was organised by Minaria’s relative from Kolkata. “They presumed that the situation had improved in the State and decided to organise the Bhagwat there. They had planned it both as a religious event cum an excursion,” said Mr. Bansal, who also said that it was Dinesh and Neha’s wedding anniversary.

It was around 6 p.m. that Mr. Bansal learnt that Minaria was injured in the attack and three hours later, he learnt about his death. 

As neighbours gathered around the locked Minaria household, they condoled the death and condemned the attack. Two of Minaria’s brothers are also residents of the same locality and one of them left for Delhi on Tuesday night. 

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the attack.

“There is also sad news of the death of Shri Dinesh Mirania of Raipur in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We stand with the victim’s family in this hour of grief. Instructions have been given to the officials to provide all possible cooperation. This act committed by the terrorists cannot be condemned enough. I pray to God for peace to the departed soul and to provide strength to the grieving family. Om Shanti!” he posted on X.