Karnal: It’s not just grief, but anger and hostility that have gripped the Pahalgam terror attack victim Lieutenant Vinay Narwal’s family in his hometown in Karnal’s Sector 7. His father, Rajesh Narwal, sits on a chair outside. He holds his head in his hands, enervated.
The family had celebrated the naval officer’s wedding last week, and had seen off Lt. Vinay and his wife Himanshi to Kashmir for their honeymoon.
What jolts Rajesh Narwal, who works a government job in the GST department, out of his almost catatonic state is the presence of the media, who have arrived at the Narwal family in droves––mob-like, they’re following the family’s every move.
“No media. Please don’t disturb us,” he said. “Please don’t ruin our image or our reputation.”
The tragedy that has Karnal’s Sector 7 in its clutches is twofold. It has descended into a media circus. The excess of the press—the volley of cameras, the questions that are being hurled at them from the personal to the potentially incendiary are causing the family to retreat further into their grief. Now, they are closing the ranks.
Another relative arrives, holding up a copy of Dainik Bhaskar. According to a headline, “Vinay Narwal and his wife were dancing to a Pakistani song”.
“Facts have been made up. Please check your facts and don’t publish false information,” said Srishti Narwal, 25, Vinay’s younger sister. Just a year younger than her brother, she’s preparing for the civil services examination.
From the 26 killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, Vinay Narwal has arguably been the most visible. The image of his wife sitting next to his body has become a totem for the violence––a BJP social media handle even turned it into an AI Studio Ghibli image. Then, there’s the question of his profession. He was a recently married, young naval officer, presumably on the cusp of what could have been an illustrious career. He and his wife made it to Kashmir by accident, after their Swiss visas were rejected.
The family and relatives claim that as a result, the media has been particularly intrusive. They’ve invaded their space.
“There were more media people than there were family members at the funeral. There must’ve been at least 250,” said a friend of the family who did not want to be named. “The media was ahead and the family was behind.”
Other than traditional news outlets, the family has also been tailed by a string of online personalities, who were recording Instagram lives, and narrating the tragedy in their own words.
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A wave of mourners
In the Narwals’ driveway, rows of chairs have been laid out, as if readying for a procession. A white tent covers the front portion of the house, in order to shade the throngs of people from the heat. Uncles murmur among themselves, discussing whether there’s enough water. Last week, logistics were being discussed for a wedding. This week, it’s to welcome those who are coming to the Narwal residence to pay their respects.
A contingent of official-looking guests, their Fortuners lined up on the road outside, walks toward the house. Most enter, join their hands at Rajesh Narwal’s feet, and make a hasty exit.
The ones who stay back begin to converse, chatting in conspiratorial whispers.
“We don’t know the technical matters. But where there were tourists, there were no police personnel. There were international tourists also,” one man told another. “Imagine how long the terrorists must’ve been planning this for. We need to take revenge like America does.”
Raising his voice, he begins to wax eloquent about convicted terrorist Hafiz Saeed. “He has more security than even the Haryana chief minister,” he said.
One of the family’s visitors was Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who, before addressing the media, put an arm around Vinay Narwal’s grandfather, and appeared to wipe a tear.
“It’s really sad that Lieutenant Vinay Narwal lost his life in the Pahalgam terror attack. The world is supporting India in its fight against terrorism,” he said.
The wave of mourners was seemingly endless. A troupe of sombre students marched in from Narwal’s alma mater SRM University, holding a black and white portrait of Narwal which read –– a soul that served. As they walked in to pay their respects, a similar battalion of media people followed –– before they were brought to a halt by members of the family.
“I wouldn’t use the word negative. I understand it’s the job. But everything about us and Vinay is already online,” said an uncle, his father’s older brother.
As the NCC students walked in, Srishti Narwal sat by herself. Her sister-in-law and mother are in no state to leave the house. A video of her has also gone viral. She can be seen demanding accountability from Haryana CM Nayab Saini. “My brother was alive for 1.5 hours, but no one was there. He could’ve been saved,” she said in the video.
After having worked in Bengaluru, she had come home to prepare for the UPSC exam on 26 May.
“We’ll see,” she said.
Earlier, with practiced flair, Srishti Narwal told a group of media persons that her brother deserves the highest honour possible. Now, she’s less controlled –– more like a regular 25-year-old.
“They (the media) want me to explain my bond with my brother. How am I supposed to do that?” she said. “They want just one sentence.”
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)