HAJIN MINOR’S KILLING | Mother’s appeal to seek release of her son goes unheard

Video of Shareefa Bano, mother of 11-year old, minor boy Aatif Ahmad, pleading militants to release her son, who according to police, was held “hostage” by the militants during an encounter here, 33 kms from Srinagar, sent shockwaves across Kashmir.

Shareefa Bano stood near an army van, as soldier handed amicrophone to her. “Please let my son go. He is innocent. For Allah’s sake, forProphet Muhammad (SAW) sake set him free. I used to feed you people. Have somemercy,” Shareefa is heard saying in the video, but no response came from theother side.

   

Another video featuring minor child’s uncle also went viralin Kashmir. He also was seen holding a microphone and appealing militants torelease Atif. “Please release him. Then do whatever you want to do. Jihad orjahalat,” he is heard as saying in the video.

The gunfight broke out on Thursday evening after forcescordoned off a village in Hajin and launched searches but it continued tillFriday due to minor boy being held “captive.”

“In this encounter we initially rescued six civilians whowere trapped inside the house. After that we came to know that two morecivilians were inside who had been taken hostage by the militants,” SeniorSuperintendent of Police Bandipora Rahul Malik told reporters.

Malik said the forces tried several ways to rescue thehostages, like involving the local Auqaf committee members who madeannouncements appealing militants to release the two civilians. “But themilitants again opened fire and in that process we managed to get uncle ofminor boy rescued. We later involved the magistrate to make appeal to themilitants to release the minor boy but the efforts couldn’t fructify,” Maliksaid.

He said “when the firing intensified from the other side”,the forces “also retaliated and in the action two militants were killed”.

Malik claimed that the minor boy was being held hostage bythe militant Ali and he (Ali) killed the minor “before our team stormed thebuilding for final assault,” he said.

Ali’s killing evoked outrage, with locals, separatists,mainstream politicians and netizens condemning it.

Hajin town on Saturday observed complete shutdown to mournthe minor’s killing.

Condemning the killing of a minor boy in Hajin gunfight,Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the manner in which the boy losthis life was heart-wrenching. “Condemn and deeply saddened at the killing of11-year old Atif in Hajin. It is heart wrenching that the young child was lostin such a manner. My heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and dua forjannah for the innocent soul,” Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter.

CPI (M) leader and former MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami in astatement said that “making civilians as human shields by combatants is an actof cowardice and must be condemned by all in one voice. The brutal incident hasdeeply shaken entire Kashmir.”

“He asked why did the militants held a minor boy hostage?What was his sin? Reportedly the militants didn’t allow the boy to go out andthey killed him before the security forces stormed the building. A 11-year-oldinnocent boy didn’t deserve to die this way. The family of the victim will haveto bear a lifelong pain,” he said. “I express my heartfelt condolences to thevictim family,” Tarigami added.

President of Awami Ithad Party and former MLA Langate ErRasheed said that “precious life of Aatif Ahmad could have been saved had boththe sides shown some restrain. While militants are morally bound not to useanyone as human shield but the state forces could have saved the precious lifeof Aatif Ahmad who had nothing to do with what was happening.”

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