Martyrs of Kashmir PAGE(4)
All Four Martyred brothers from Wonagam Bandipora by Indian troops
(1)Bashir Ahmed Sofi S/O Muhamamd Sofi R/O Onagam Bandipora
Disappeared
(2) Nazir Ahmed Sofi S/O Muhamamd Sofi R/O Onagam Bandipora Martyred at Panjigam Bandipora Dated May 1999-
(3) Rafiq Ahmed Sofi S/O Muhamamd Sofi R/O Onagam Bandipora Martyred at Athwatu Bandipore Dated 24/9/93
Hajira, the lone furrower-Hajira when her husband was alive (Mother of four martyrs)
ZULFIKAR MAJID
Wonagam (Bandipora), Jan 7: In the courtyard of a modest house of this north Kashmir hamlet, villagers have assembled to mourn the death of Ghulam Muhammad Sofi who died on Sunday after battling for life for more than a year.
But death isn’t a new thing in Sofi’s family. Three of his sons have been killed by the Army in the last 15 years while the fourth disappeared in Army custody.
Sofi’s widow, Hajira Begum, is being consoled by women. “I’ve lost everything. My husband died in miserable condition as at times we even hadn’t money to purchase medicines for him. Had my sons been alive, we wouldn’t have been in this condition. The death of three sons and disappearance of one broke down my husband,” Hajira told Greater Kashmir.
Due to abject poverty, she said she developed complications in pancreas and liver and is living on treatment. “I won’t live for too long now as life has been so cruel to me. I don’t have money to purchase medicines and even warm clothes. If my sons would have been alive and working as labourers, at least they would have been earning Rs 800 a day. We wouldn’t have been begging for two square meals,” Hajira said amid sobs.
Hajira’s tragic tale started in 1993 when her son Muhammad Rafiq, 17, was killed by the troops in an encounter. Rafiq was an upper ground militant and had joined militant ranks just a month before his killing.
While the family was yet to overcome the shock of Rafiq’s death, his elder brother, Nazir Ahmad, 45, was shot dead by the troops outside his house in 1995.
“Nazir was going for evening prayers when an Army party fired on him killing him on the spot. Before killing of Nazir, 14-Rashtriya Rifles troops picked up my other son Bashir Ahmad and subjected him to enforced disappearance,” Hajira said.
As if losing three sons wasn’t enough, Hajira’s fourth son, Aijaz Ahmad took up arms to avenge the killings of his brothers. He too was killed in an encounter at Kreeri Pattan by the Army.
Hajira’s one more son, Farooq Ahmad, was shot at and injured by the troops. Farooq, a carpenter has seven daughters.
For all these years Hajira has been making efforts to search her disappeared son, but all in vain. “I contacted police a few years back to lodge an FIR. They demanded Rs 10,000 which I somehow managed and paid them. Police assured me that they will find out my son, but…,” she added.
Curtsey greater Kashmir 8-Jan-2008
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