The travellers’ passports, money and valuables were all snatched by the assailants.

But after the women finished evening prayers, the men did not show up. The women then informed local police, who searched the area. Along with local police, some of the women went back to the spot where the bus had been boarded.

Fourteen bodies were found lying by the road. The Indians were part of these. The bodies have already been buried in Karbala.

Ali's wife, Mallika Begum, is in shock and unable to speak. They have three children Yousha Haider (17), Kumeil Haider (14) and Zaira Fatima (16). His relatives said that he worked at an STD booth, earning about Rs 1,500 per month, the sole earner for his family. About two hours away from Hyderabad, in the Ghatkesar village of the Rangareddy district, the mood is similar. Dr Beig (58) was the founder of the Ghatkesar polyclinc, which is one of the oldest in the area. “He was a perfect person,” says his brother Mujahid Hussein. “He would treat anyone, even if they did not have money to pay him. If he wanted he could have gone to Hyderabad to get richer, but chose to live here.”

Beig's wife, Zahira Fatima, was also part of the tour. It was their first trip to the holy city. “Zahira called us from there, and she was inconsolable,” says Hussein. “Such a thing was totally unexpected, Indians are completely safe there.”

It was Zahira who had identified all three Indians after they had been executed.

... contd.