“My dreams are gone with him,” says slain Zahoor’s father
Families seek justice and support
Hundreds attended funeral prayers of slain porters in Baramulla
Baramulla, Oct 25: A day after two Army personnel and two porters were killed, and two others injured, in a terrorist attack on an army vehicle in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg, Baramulla, a wave of grief has engulfed the families of the slain porters.
As per police, slain porters were identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Chaudhary from Nowshera, Manzoor Ahmed Mir from Barnate Boniyar. While another porter Basharat Ali from Uri has been critically injured and is stable at Army hospital.
Javid Ahmad Chowdhary, a resident of Nowshera and cousin of the slain porter Mushtaq Ahmad Chowdhary said they were shocked to learn that Mushtaq had been killed in the attack along with three others. The encounter happened around 5-6 PM, and we confirmed the news at 9 PM from porters working in the same army unit.
“Mushtaq had only rejoined duty as a porter with the Army in Gulmarg four days prior to the attack. After a tough struggle, he got this job, which is highly competitive due to rising unemployment in Kashmir, he said.
Javid said slain Mushtaq had not received payment for the past four months, except for a 20-day wage. His father, a cardiac patient, requires Rs. 15,000 monthly for medical expenses, and the family is living in poverty,” he said.
Mushtaq is survived by his wife, a four-year-old son, and his elderly parents. His brother, a laborer, lives separately.
“It was his fifth month as an Army porter, and he was expected to return home on December 6, as the porter job typically lasts six months,” he said.
Till Friday late morning, Mushtaq’s father was unaware of his son’s death, as the family feared he may not be able to bear the grief.
“He spoke to his wife and son at 1 PM on Thursday, and he was very happy. It is devastating for us and all of Kashmir to lose such young lives.”
The Nowshera area of Kashmir’s Uri town, where Mushtaq lived, has about eight youth working as porters with the Army. Most families in the area live below the poverty line and seek any form of employment, even if it means risking their lives by working at strategic locations with the Army.
Another local, Mohammad Maqbool said that it is heartbreaking to think that these innocent, unarmed laborers were killed in cold blood. What did the attackers gain from this? They have destroyed entire families,” he said.
“Who will provide for Mushtaq’s father’s medicines now? Who will his son call ‘Papa’? His parents, aged 72 and 65, are now left with no support. The government must stop this bloodshed and find a solution,” Maqbool said.
He also said that it was the fourth such incident in the past week. Innocent people are being killed, and the government must intervene to stop this, Maqbool added.
Another porter, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, who was also killed in the attack, was a resident of Bernate Uri. He is survived by his wife and children. Mir lived with his family in a single-room house, while another son lived in a separate room in a single storied house.
Yasir Ahmad, cousin brother of slain Zahoor said that path of gloom and sorrow has fallen over the entire Boniyar area. “Mir spoke to his mother on Thursday and asked her if she had enough medicines and winter gear. Now, his family has no means to support themselves or even build a proper home,” he said.
Zahoor’s father, Abdul Ahad Mir said Before joining as a porter, he told me he would work day and night to fulfill the family’s dreams and wanted to build a good home for us.
He used to tell me, “Abba, I will work hard, day and night if I must, but I will build a house where we can all live with dignity. I want to raise my children in a better place and give them a life we never had.’ That dream was everything to him. Now, it feels like that dream is gone with him,” Abdul Ahmad added.
Meanwhile, locals from both the places appeal to the administration, including the Lieutenant Governor and the new Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to provide financial aid and government jobs for the next of kins to help these devastated families rebuild their lives.
Amid sobs and tears, thousands gathered for the funeral prayers of the deceased at Army porters in Nowshera and Bernate village. The prayers, led by local Imams, were attended by mourners from various areas of Uri town.
