Poonch, Sep 30: It is a most horrifying story of a young boy who remained an intelligent student throughout his early childhood and wanted to be an IPS Officer but destiny had something else in store for him as he lost his one eye in cross firing between militants and army. 
 Irfan Ahmed son of Ghulam –Mohi-ud Din of Plera, Tehsil Mandi, presently residing in Qazimohra, Ward No. 1 in Poonch city had a terrible experience when a single event changed his life forever. Irfan Ahmed, always wanted to become an IPS Officer. Seeing his enthusiasm, his parents decided to leave their ancestral village Plera, in Mandi tehsil, and decided to proceed to Poonch so that they could provide good education to him. Everything was fine up to 8th class as Irfan used to secure good marks. In class 8th, Irfan started playing boxing. One day, when he was on way to Sports stadium Poonch he fell and his arm got fractured. As there was no orthopedic in Poonch then, his parents decided to take him to Rajouri for treatment. But destiny had something else in store for him. While traveling from Poonch to Rajouri, their vehicle stopped at Thanamandi and suddenly militants started firing at Army in the heart of Thanmanadi. One of the bullets hit Irfan on his right cheek. Shocked, his parents took him to Rajouri where doctors stitched the damaged portion of Irfan’s face and advised them to visit Jammu for immediate treatment. When they reached Jammu, they were directed to visit PGI Chandigarh as both eyes of Irfan were damaged due to presence of splinters.
 His mother immediately sold her jewelry and land and went to Chandigarh for his treatment. They remained in Chandigarh for eight months and spent nearly Rs 10 lakhs. Nobody came forward to help them. Doctors took a part of flesh from his right leg and pasted it on his right cheek, which was damaged due to bullet. The scars of injury are clearly visible on his face.
 While talking to Greater Kashmir, Irfan’s mother Shokeen Akhter said: “I sold all my  valuables for the treatment of my son but his right eye has suffered extensive damage. He can only see through his left eye that too with the help of a 12mm glass. Nobody from administration or any organization came to our help and I am totally dejected.”
 She said, doctors performed three surgeries and we had to pay around Rs 70,000 for each operation.
  Irfan Ahmed, said, “Though I am 50% handicapped, still I have complete faith in Allah and hope, He will help me to get over this trauma. I will put in all my efforts to become an IAS officer as now I am not eligible for IPS cadre. Though I am short of any money and resources, I am determined to carry forward my dream to become an IAS officer.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Oct 2012 00:00:00 IST