Sunjawan attack: Kupwara villages mourn killing of 2 soldiers

Two of the six army personnel killed in fidayeen attack on Sunjawan army camp in Jammu belonged to twin villages of Maidanpora and Batpora of this district.

While Subedar Muhammad Ashraf Mir was from Maidanpora, Lolab, Havaladar Habibullah Qurashi was from Batpora, Hayhama. A pall of gloom descended upon the twin villages when the news about the killing of Mir and Qurashi reached their native places.

   

Forty-year old Qurashi, son of Amanuallah Qurashi had joined 1st J&K light infantry in 1996. While Qurashi’s father is a retired solider, his uncles Azizullah Qurashi, Baiduallah Qurashi and most of his close relatives are serving in army.

Qurashi is survived by six daughters and wife. His eldest daughter is 15-year old while the youngest one is three-year old. 

When the news about his death reached the village, mourners started to visit his home located on foot hills of Safawali forest. Unaware of the tragedy that has struck them, his six daughters were either busy with daily chores or playing in the lawns. 

As rush of the mourners increased, the family grew suspicious and started to inquire the reasons about their visit. But none of them could muster courage break the news about the tragedy that had struck them. 

Moments later, an army major from a local camp visited the house and informed Qureshi’s father about his killing. An aged Amanuallah Qurashi broke in tears after hearing about the killing of his son.

The entire village is in shock. “Please don’t tell anything about the killing of my son to his daughters,” their grandfather requested the villagers, amid tears.   

“It is a Kashmiri who is getting killed every day, either at the hands of militants or forces. The residents of border areas like ours have been the victims of hostilities between India and Pakistan for decades now,” sighed one of the neighbors. 

The heart wrenching scenes were equally witnessed in Maidanpora village of Lolab. In shock, all relatives and family members of Subedar Mir had assembled at his house— some of them were consoling the bereaved family.

Mir is survived by his wife and three children, two sons and a daughter. His father Ghulam Mohi-ud-din is a farmer.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

one × five =