‘Budding intellectual lost’
Hanifa Begum, mother of deceased Irfan said she has the regret that his son missed the promised prize for which he was preparing for the past 10 days. Irfan was preparing for a farewell programme to be held at his school where he usually used to get away with most of the awards for his splendid performance.
“My son was preparing for the school program to perform on superannuation of his favorite teacher in his school, but Army killed him before he could perform. Why Army killed him? What was his sin?” wailing mother of Irfan asks everyone who tries to console. “I would have no regret if Irfan would have been a militant. He was an innocent unarmed boy busy in his studies,” said a shell-shocked Hanifa. “Before getting killed, Irfan was studying in his room with his laptop in the lap. He was preparing for the forthcoming school function, but cruel hands snatched him from me,” wailing mother said. Wrapped in a white blanket, Hanifa was gazing at Irfan’s body with the hope his son would get up again.
People in general and the teachers in particular regret that they have lost an intelligent and compassionate student. “He was an intelligent boy of our school. He used to lead students at every front and did so in death as well,” a teacher said. “He was very happy a day before and he was preparing his classmates for excursion,” said the teacher. Iran was studying in 12th class at Higher Secondary School Naidkhai and was always a topper in his class. He used to regularly participate in debates, seminars and other school functions. He was the youngest among two brothers and two sisters. Irfan’s father Ghulam Nabi works in Mechanical Department works as a daily rated worker. “We were working hard to pay for the studies of our younger son Irfan so that he can excel in his studies,” said Ghulam Nabi. “Among all my children Irfan was the brightest,” he said. Recalling the tragic moment when his son was killed, Irfan’s mother said she tried to stop him from venturing out as their door was being constantly banged. “I tried to stop him fearing presence of Army outside as he was always scared of troopers. But he insisted on going out till the bullets pierced through his heart,” she said. “As the army had beefed up patrolling in the village from last few days, Irfan preferred to stay indoors due to the fear of the Army. But, on this fateful day, he came out to raise voice about the presence of thieves and received bullets,” she said. “As we heard the sound of gunshots, we came out rushing to see Irfan lying in a pool of blood. We were stopped by the Army from taking his to hospital,” said a neighbour. “Irfan was our Afsar (Officer), we lost a valuable soul, he was a budding intellectual,” one of Irfan’s teachers, Dilshada said.
Published on Greater Kashmir
Kashmir killings: Amina widowed twice
Last year, when Tariq's brother died during an accident, he took over the responsibility to run the house. But as days passed, the youth who was today killed in army firing, in a rare gesture took the decision of marrying the widow (Amina) of his elder brother. His friends say he was a sensitive man and could not see others suffer. It was perhaps his outlook that made him to protests when teenage Irfan was shot dead in cold blood during midnight on Sunday. But, for Amina, with Tariq's death she has been widowed twice.
During Sunday night, the Markundal village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district witnessed the 'cold-blooded murder' of 17-year-old Muhammad Irfan. The killing of Irfan has not only shocked his family but the whole village people who see it as ‘revenge’ killing by the Army.
In the compound of her modest house, Irfan's inconsolable mother calls her son, who fell to the bullets of Army for none of his fault. “O my dear son, where are you,” she shouts. The women, who had encircled her try to calm her, but she keeps wailing and calling her son.
“They dragged him, thrashed him and finally shot him,” says a witness, who was surrounded by people and few reporters. “They initially came at 11:00 PM and then again at 3:00 AM,” says this middle aged man, who despite repeated requests wasn’t revealing his name – perhaps fearing backlash from Army.
Irfan’s father, Ghulam Nabi, wasn’t able to speak. “He was shot in head and he died on spot,” he says, while wiping his tears after coming from the local graveyard where Irfan was buried amidst anti-India \and pro-freedom slogans.
The army men, who shot dead young Irfan, two hours after the incident pointed their guns towards protesters -- who were protesting against the cold-blooded murder. Army killed another innocent, Tariq.
Tariq, who had come to attend a marriage in Markundal village from his native village called Borsu in the neighboring Manasbal area of Ganderbal district, was the sole breadearner.
At 5:00 in the morning, according to locals and witnesses, when they were protesting against the killing of Irfan, the army opened fire on demonstrators in which Tariq Ahmad – a 25 year old youth, who was doing part time job in a car showroom, was hit in abdomen. He was immediately shifted to hospital, where he breathed his last.
The killing of another youth fumed the already charged people, who clashed with government forces in many areas.
In Tariq’s native village, located near famous Manasbal Lake. The situation was extremely tense. Not only men, but women were also on the roads protesting against Tariq's killing. They had blocked the movement of vehicles and had targeted those, which defied their orders of not going back.
Tariq's death was another tragedy for his family. His elder brother had met an accident last year and died. The lone surviving brother in the family is a handicap.
As his body arrived in an ambulance, the village roared with cries and slogans.
Wrapped in blue blanket on a stretcher, Tariq's body – who now was martyr for the villagers – was put in the compound of his home. People flocked inside the house’s compound to have a glimpse.
Tariq was given heroic farewell. Some women were singing marriage songs. He was to marry the widow of his elder brother.
(Some names have been changed to protect identity)
Published on Kashmir Dispatch
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