Keller (Shopian), Apr 24: Ghulam Muhammad Kalas, who was shot dead by army on Saturday morning here in south Kashmir, has left behind nine children.
All of them were sitting around their mother, Shameema, as neighbours and relatives consoled her. She was in a shock as her husband was being buried in a graveyard on a nearby hill slope. She didn’t utter a word. It was only the relatives and neighbours who talked.
 According to them, Kalas had left home on Friday night at around 8, without having dinner. He had told his wife that he would be back but he only returned dead.
 “Kalas was a labourer and he used to earn his livelihood by collecting firewood from the forests and then sell it in the market,” said his neighbours. He also worked in the fields to sustain the family, they added.
 Of the nine children—seven daughters and two sons—the eldest one, Fareeda is 15-years-old and the youngest, Zamrooda is two-years-old.
 Notwithstanding the poverty, neighbours said, Kalas had enrolled three of his nine children in a local primary school.
 Three elder children, Fareeda, Rubeena and Bilal go to school. Fareeda studies in 4th standard, Rubeena in 2nd standard and Bilal in 1st standard.
 “He worked hard to make the ends meet. Despite all the hardships, he wanted his children to study,” said Muhammad Yusuf, a relative.
 “I wonder what will happen to all these children now,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST