Lalad (Sopur), June 26: Shakeel had just settled in his profession. An electrician, he had started getting contracts for government and private buildings. On Friday, he along with his father Abdul Aziz Ganai left home for afternoon prayers at a local Masjid, hoping to visit Sopur town to purchase electric material for new work which he had got only a few days ago.
 The father-son duo separated after prayers. Shakeel was brought home dead late in the evening, killed in the CRPF firing on protestors following an encounter in the apple town.
 As destiny had it, Shakeel’s mother who had gone to her parents’ home to inquire about their health had to return only to mourn the death of his most dear child.
 “We called on Shakeel’s mobile to inquire if he was alright after we heard the news that CRPF had fired at protestors. Somebody else responded on his number saying Shakeel is dead. He said Shakeel was hit by a bullet,” said Bashir Ahmad Khanday, who was Shakeel’s new client.
 Reports said Shakeel had died immediately after being hit by a bullet.
 Abject poverty had forced Shakeel to drop out of school in 10th standard and help his father to earn livelihood for the family besides consisting of four daughters, mother and another son.
 “I was sleeping at home when we heard that brother had been hit by a bullet. We ran here and there, prayed, but…,” said Shakeel’s younger brother Shahid who works as labourer to share father’s burden.
 Sitting in the corner of a room of his shabbily furnished house, Aziz repeatedly beat his chest and shouted: “Call my son and tell him that Tariq (his partner in work) is looking for him to leave for the job. Oh my Allah there can be no more tragedy in a father’s life than this.”
 The newly constructed one storey house with 4 rooms is jointly owned by Aziz and his brother, Abdul Rashid, whose family consists of his wife, three daughters and a son.
 Shakeel’s sister and mother were crying their heart out over the loss of their dear one.
 “Come my darling son, every relative is present here today. Come my son you can’t leave me,” Shakeel’s mother was crying, pulling her hair out. “How can we tolerate your parting away? Don’t leave us alone,” one of Shakeel’s sisters was crying while a few women were trying to console his other sisters.
 The local youth said Shakeel would always stay away from protests, busy in his work. “Even during the 2008 summer agitation when the whole Kashmir was on roads protesting, Shakeel was busy in his job at Budgam for three months,” said one of the youth.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST