SRINAGAR: What began as a new chapter in the lives of newlyweds Vinay Narwal and Himanshi ended in unspeakable tragedy within days. A week after their wedding, 27-year-old Lieutenant Vinay Narwal of the Indian Navy was gunned down in cold blood during their honeymoon in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, leaving his bride in stunned silence and an entire town drowning in grief.
His lifeless form lay on a dusty patch of earth in the valley, while Himanshi sat nearby, numb with shock, a black rucksack beside her—its contents spilled, much like their dreams. In a heartbreaking video shared later, Himanshi recalls the horrific moment: “We were eating Bhel Puri. A man approached us and asked if my husband was a Muslim. When he said no, he was shot point blank.”
Back home in Karnal, Haryana, the mood was hauntingly different just days before. Colourful wedding decorations still adorned their home in Sector 7, now overshadowed by the white canopy of mourning. The fragrance of celebration lingered on walls marked with Mehndi, while the entrance—still draped with mango leaves—stood as a painful contrast to the sorrow that had taken hold.
On Wednesday evening, Vinay’s final rites were performed amid cries of anguish and chants of patriotism. Himanshi, barely able to speak through her tears, said, “We could have never imagined that this journey would turn into a nightmare.”
Vinay had recently taken a 40-day leave for his wedding and birthday festivities. On April 4, he got engaged to Himanshi, a PhD scholar. After their wedding ceremonies, the couple boarded a flight from Delhi to Srinagar. They had carefully planned their trip — Vinay’s 27th birthday on May 1 was to be celebrated in style. A few days later, they were to travel to Kochi, where he was posted.
But now, those celebrations will never come. “That date—May 1—will forever remind us of what we lost,” said Vinay’s father Rajesh Kumar, a Superintendent with the Customs Department in Panipat. His mother, Asha Devi, a homemaker, stood in silent devastation.
His twin sister, Srishti, who is currently preparing for the civil services in Delhi, struggled to find words. “What did my brother do to deserve this?” she asked, her voice quivering.
Vinay’s grandfather, Hawa Singh, a retired BSF officer who later served with the Haryana Police, was overwhelmed with emotion. “He dreamed of wearing the uniform since his college years. When he couldn’t crack the Combined Defence Services exam, he appeared for the SSB and joined the Navy three years ago,” he shared, barely holding back his tears.
Himanshi’s father, Sunil Kumar, who had only days ago adorned his daughter’s hands with henna and traditional bridal bangles, was at a complete loss. “I never thought I would see her like this,” he whispered.
The heartbreak was mirrored by hundreds who gathered to pay their respects. As Vinay’s body arrived in Karnal, chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” “Vinay Narwal Amar Rahe,” and “Pakistan Murdabad” rang out through the air — the grief of a town blending with national outrage.
Vinay had initially hoped to take Himanshi to Switzerland for their honeymoon. When his foreign travel request wasn’t approved, he chose Kashmir instead — a decision that would unknowingly lead him to his death.
Born in Busli village and raised in Karnal after his family moved there 15 years ago, Vinay attended Saint Kabir School and completed his engineering in Delhi. A promising officer, a devoted son, and a loving husband — his journey was cut brutally short.
Now, instead of planning a birthday bash, his family is left counting the days without him. What was meant to be a honeymoon has become a lifetime of mourning.
