JAMMU, May 30: A pall of gloom descended remote village in Udhampur district when the body of Deepu Kumar, who was gunned down by terrorists on Monday evening, reached the village on Tuesday .
Kumar, who worked at a circus in the district’s Janglat Mandi area, was gunned down by terrorists on Monday evening when he had gone to the market to buy milk.
His body was on Tuesday taken to his native village in Udhampur district where his family performed his last rites.
Large number of people from adjoining villages participated in the last rites of Deepu to pay their tributes.
Kumar was the only bread earner in the family comprising his ailing father, blind brother Raju and his wife, and their two minor children. Deepak’s mother passed away sometime back.
The couple was expecting their first child next month and was putting up with him at Anantnag where he was working in a private circus.
“My brother was taking care of the entire family including me, my wife and my children,” Raju, the elder brother of Deepak told Rising Kashmir.
“I lost my eyes some years back due to serious infection and therefore cannot do any work,” Deepak’s brother said adding, “My brother was the lone earning of the family and he had been taking care of entire family so far”.
Raju added, “After his brutal killing, we are completely shattered and are worried about how to survive as there is no earning hand left in our family now”.
He, however, said the government has assured us of support. “But for how long,” he said.
LG announces ex-gratia for the next of kin of martyred civilian
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the next of kin of Deepu, who was killed by terrorists in Anantnag .
In a message, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and said the government and the entire nation is standing shoulder to shoulder with the family.
