In strange times,old survive and young perish
Nowgam continues to mourn Faisal, Mehraj
MUBASHIR BUKHARI
Srinagar: ‘Mata maritav vuni chu na vansi kam, Mata maritav vuni chhiva na manzi nam’ (Do not die on me, you are so young! Do not die, your nails but barely henna –tipped!”), these chants are reverberating from the homes of Meraj-ud-Din Dar and Faisal Yusuf who were killed by Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles at Chattergam area of Budgam district on Monday evening.
The streets of Nowgam look like a war zone, clad faces with stones in their hands are ready to take ‘revenge’ of their two innocent brothers. While mourners in numbers are consoling the families of the youth others are decorating the graves of Faisal and Mehraj buried together in native graveyard. A pall of gloom has engulfed the native place of these slain youth.
The home of 14-year-old Faisal Yusuf has lost its charm and sheen. His father Mohd Yousuf Bhat wearing a skull cap, surrounded by neighbors and relatives has become more vocal since his “little prince” died. Giving the references of Islamic verses his father seems to be more delighted for the “sacrifice” offered by his beloved son.
“14 Chapters (Para) of Quran were engraved in my 14-year-old son’s heart. But they didn’t spare and martyred him along with Meraj. But it was destined we can’t do anything. I ask Allah to give me strength to face the reality,” said Yousuf Bhat.
A 7th class student, Faisal wanted to memorize the whole Quran instead of keeping the dream of becoming Doctor and engineer. His sister Bisma who is in second year is in trauma, his younger brothers Farhaan and Farzaan hardly understand the meaning of death.“We are shattered, we don’t let anyone discuss Faisal in front of family members. We have caged his sister and mother, they faint each time. But what we have lost him who will get him back,” said Muzzafar Ahmad, Faisal’s cousin.
The picture is no different at Meraj’s home, which is few minutes away from Faisal’s house. One has to first pass the graveyard, heavily guarded streets, cladded faces to reach another innocent’s home.
In the middle, some locals while interacting said that security forces didn’t even allow relatives and neighbours to meet the bereaved families for first two days. “First they killed our brothers and now they have turned these streets as military fortress. They didn’t allow us to meet them,” said some of the residents.
While entering the gates of Mehraj’s home, mourners are gazing at every entrant with their faces. A group of women is surrounding Mehraj’s mother in tent setup in their yard. While his father Ghulam Mohd Dar a PHE employee by profession is sitting silently in a room surrounded by group of people, some known some unknown.
With little hope, no demands, Mehraj’s father is calmer than Faisal’s father. He doesn’t believe in govt or army probes. His demand is to see the killers of his son.
“What demand you are talking about? I don’t have anyone. Just identify the killers, disclose the names, give them to me.Probe doesn’t bring back my son back,” Ghulam Mohd Dar said.
Meraj-ud-Din Dar (21) was younger among siblings and was laborer by profession. On that fateful day Dar didn’t see the face of his son in the morning. “I didn’t see him in the morning as I left for work. When I came back at night my whole life was changed,” he said.
“Army shoots to kill people rather than saving them. We are helpless, armless we can’t do anything. The killers of my son will be changed from one place to another but at last they will be let free,” said Mohd Dar.
He said that today we lost Faisal and Mehraj but this bloodshed will not stop because gates of justice is closed in case of Kashmir.
Four days have passed since these two youth were killed, but their locality is still mourning their death and the deserted streets and mournful faces stands testimony to the fact that wailing will continue till justice is not be given to them. And their mothers will be yelling
‘Mata maritay vuni chhiva na vansi kam(Do not die on me, you are so young!)
Mata maritay vuni chhiva na manzi nam (Do not die, your nails but barely henna –tipped!)
Nowgam continues to mourn Faisal, Mehraj
MUBASHIR BUKHARI
Srinagar: ‘Mata maritav vuni chu na vansi kam, Mata maritav vuni chhiva na manzi nam’ (Do not die on me, you are so young! Do not die, your nails but barely henna –tipped!”), these chants are reverberating from the homes of Meraj-ud-Din Dar and Faisal Yusuf who were killed by Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles at Chattergam area of Budgam district on Monday evening.
The streets of Nowgam look like a war zone, clad faces with stones in their hands are ready to take ‘revenge’ of their two innocent brothers. While mourners in numbers are consoling the families of the youth others are decorating the graves of Faisal and Mehraj buried together in native graveyard. A pall of gloom has engulfed the native place of these slain youth.
The home of 14-year-old Faisal Yusuf has lost its charm and sheen. His father Mohd Yousuf Bhat wearing a skull cap, surrounded by neighbors and relatives has become more vocal since his “little prince” died. Giving the references of Islamic verses his father seems to be more delighted for the “sacrifice” offered by his beloved son.
“14 Chapters (Para) of Quran were engraved in my 14-year-old son’s heart. But they didn’t spare and martyred him along with Meraj. But it was destined we can’t do anything. I ask Allah to give me strength to face the reality,” said Yousuf Bhat.
A 7th class student, Faisal wanted to memorize the whole Quran instead of keeping the dream of becoming Doctor and engineer. His sister Bisma who is in second year is in trauma, his younger brothers Farhaan and Farzaan hardly understand the meaning of death.“We are shattered, we don’t let anyone discuss Faisal in front of family members. We have caged his sister and mother, they faint each time. But what we have lost him who will get him back,” said Muzzafar Ahmad, Faisal’s cousin.
The picture is no different at Meraj’s home, which is few minutes away from Faisal’s house. One has to first pass the graveyard, heavily guarded streets, cladded faces to reach another innocent’s home.
In the middle, some locals while interacting said that security forces didn’t even allow relatives and neighbours to meet the bereaved families for first two days. “First they killed our brothers and now they have turned these streets as military fortress. They didn’t allow us to meet them,” said some of the residents.
While entering the gates of Mehraj’s home, mourners are gazing at every entrant with their faces. A group of women is surrounding Mehraj’s mother in tent setup in their yard. While his father Ghulam Mohd Dar a PHE employee by profession is sitting silently in a room surrounded by group of people, some known some unknown.
With little hope, no demands, Mehraj’s father is calmer than Faisal’s father. He doesn’t believe in govt or army probes. His demand is to see the killers of his son.
“What demand you are talking about? I don’t have anyone. Just identify the killers, disclose the names, give them to me.Probe doesn’t bring back my son back,” Ghulam Mohd Dar said.
Meraj-ud-Din Dar (21) was younger among siblings and was laborer by profession. On that fateful day Dar didn’t see the face of his son in the morning. “I didn’t see him in the morning as I left for work. When I came back at night my whole life was changed,” he said.
“Army shoots to kill people rather than saving them. We are helpless, armless we can’t do anything. The killers of my son will be changed from one place to another but at last they will be let free,” said Mohd Dar.
He said that today we lost Faisal and Mehraj but this bloodshed will not stop because gates of justice is closed in case of Kashmir.
Four days have passed since these two youth were killed, but their locality is still mourning their death and the deserted streets and mournful faces stands testimony to the fact that wailing will continue till justice is not be given to them. And their mothers will be yelling
‘Mata maritay vuni chhiva na vansi kam(Do not die on me, you are so young!)
Mata maritay vuni chhiva na manzi nam (Do not die, your nails but barely henna –tipped!)
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