Srinagar, June 29: Killing spree seems to have come full circle in the Valley from north to south. And as they say death keeps no calendar, it has struck many families devouring their beloveds—irrespective of age and profession.
Majority of the 12 teenagers and youth who died in firing by paramilitary CRPF and police action in past over six months across Kashmir were either students, artisans or labourers belonging to modest families. Besides leaving the entire Valley in shock, they left behind unfulfilled responsibilities, dreams and shattered families.
In past 19 days, 11 persons have been killed in Srinagar, Sopur, Varmul and Islamabad. The killing spree this year started with the death of 16-year old Inayat Khan of Dalgate at Budshah Chowk on January 8. He was the first victim of unprovoked firing by CRPF.
Inayat’s father, Muhammad Amin Khan, works in the Military Engineering Service. Few days before his killings, Inayat had just passed his matriculation exams. There was festive atmosphere in his home which was thronged by his relatives. An ardent cricket fan, Inayat had a fascination of watching matches on LCD TV as it displays clear picture. His family had promised to gift him an LCD for his achievement.
With an aim to pursue higher education, Inayat had deposited Rs 15,000 for admission to PUC. On the fateful day, tech-savy Inayat was heading towards his home after computer class at Koker Bazar. But destiny had something else in store for him. He fell to bullets of troopers at Budshah Chowk. For Khan’s family, celebrations turned into sorrows.
Coincidentally, Inayat’s house is two kms from the residence of crippled musician Inayat Bhat, who also fell to the bullets of CRPF troopers in 2006. Despite passing of three years and eyewitness accounts and FIR, the accused troopers are yet to be punished.
On January 31, a boy playing cricket was killed at the Gani Memorial Stadium Rajouri Kadal after he was hit by a teargas shell fired by police. His body was kept in the mortuary of the Police Control Room. Clad in a traditional Kashmiri cloak, the nameless youth seemed to be in a deep sleep. Hordes of anxious people had thronged the PCR to identify the body. Finally, the victim was identified as 13- year old Wamiq Farooq of Rainawari.
Wamiq had shown excellence in academics and sports earning many trophies and certificates of merit. But he had desired to become a scientist. His father, Farooq Ahmad, earns his livelihood by selling second hand garments in Lal Chowk. A student of 7th standard of Caset School in Rainawari, Wamiq is remembered by his friends as industrious and affable. He is survived by three siblings and parents.
The hapless family has accused the police of cover-up and approached the Court for justice.
Five days after Wamiq’s killing, Zahid Farooq of Nishat was killed by BSF personnel at Kralsangri. Like Wamiq, Zahid had gone to a nearby field to play cricket but returned dead.
Zahid was the only son of his parents who are now left with two daughters. His father, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, is a government employee in the Public Health Engineering Department. He was a student of Meerak Shah School, Shalimar and had passed his matriculation examination in December last year.
On charges of his murder, a BSF commandant and constable are facing trial.
Killing spree did not stop and on April 13 headed towards north Kashmir. This time the victim was 17-year old Zubair Ahmad Bhat. Witnesses had seen Zubair resting on the bank of river Jhelum at Jamia Qadeem beneath a bridge. The CRPF troopers chasing a group of protesters reached the spot and allegedly forced them and Zubair to jump into the river. While rest of youth safely crossed the river, Zubair struggled. Attempts by some boatmen to rescue him proved futile as the troopers fired teargas canisters on them. Zubair finally breathed his last. Police termed the incident as an accident and closed the case.
Zubair was a class 11th student of Government Higher Secondary Sopur. Incidentally, his elder brother, Ehsan-ul-Haq was killed by troopers in 2006.
On June 11, death against revisited the city. Like Wamiq, 17-year old Tufial Ahmad Matoo of Saida Kadal was killed after being hit by a teargas canister fired by police at Rajouri Kadal.
Tufail was the lone child of his parents. He had passed his matriculation with distinction and wanted to become a doctor. A few days before his death he and his father, Muhammad Ashraf, had selected a car for purchase. But with his death all his dreams remained as such.
Tufial’s killing lead to a chain of deaths. Muhammad Rafique Bangroo, 24, a shawl weaver of Dana Mazar was ruthlessly beaten by the troopers while dispersing a group of youth protesting over Tufial’s killing.
Rafiq battled for life for a week and passed away on June 19. The youthful Rafiq used to work tirelessly to help his aged father, Abdul Ahad, to clear his debts. He left behind aged parents, a brother and an immortal memory of his separation. Pertinently, Rafiq is the seventh victim of troopers from Bangroo family.
As Bangroo’s body was yet to be laid to rest, the troopers killed his close relative, 17-year old Javid fell to bullets of CRPF troopers on June 20.
Javid was the youngest among three siblings including a sister. Due to abject poverty, he was forced to discontinue his studies and was working in a bag manufacturing factory at Khanmoh.
Five days later, the apple town witnessed a bloodbath. Two youth, Shakeel Ahmad Ganai, 24, and Firdous Ahmad Kakroo, 20, were killed when CRPF troopers fired upon a procession demanding bodies of two militants killed.
Shakeel used to work as an electrician to fend his family comprising four sisters, brother and aged parents. On the fateful day he had left to purchase electric material, never to return.
Like Shakeel, Firdous was lone breadwinner of his family. He had recently appeared in his 12th bi-annual exams and was awaiting result. As fate would have it, on the fateful day he was irrigating his fields at Sopur. But the CRPF troopers had other plans. They pumped bullets towards Firdous killing him on the spot. He is survived by aged parents, two brothers and a sister.
On June 27, the troopers shot dead another youth, Bilal Ahmad Wani who was watching the protests against the killings of Shakeel and Firdous. Bilal was a daily wager in PHE department with a meager salary of Rs 1500. He is survived by four sisters.
Killings had no respite in north Kashmir as two more persons including a nine year old boy were killed by troopers on June 28. The boy, Tauqeer Ahmad, was fired upon by troopers at Delina causing his on the spot death.
Death again revisited apple town Sopur as troopers shot dead Tajamul Bashir Bhat on Monday. He was a first year student of Degree College Sopur. He worked as a part time laborer to finance his education and family.
As the Valley was still mourning over the killings, three more persons fell to police bullets in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district today. While two of the victims, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khanday, 15 and Shujaat-ul-Islam, 18 were students, Imtiyaz Ahmad Itoo, 18, was working as a helper with a baker.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST