Shopian youth laid to rest at Pinjura village
PHOTO/Muneeb Ul Islam
Shopian: A fresh grave of 15 year old Umar in Shopian’s Pinjura village has added to the collective torment of the villagers here who were still mourning the recent civilian killings.
Umar Kumar was killed on Wednesday during clashes near the encounter site at Turkwangam village of Shopian District.
While talking to this reporter, the eyewitnesses said that Umar on the day of his death had joined other local youth to march towards the encounter site.
“He was very far from the encounter site when he was shot at by the forces and later succumbed to injuries,” the eyewitnesses claimed, adding, “He had no stone in his hand when he was hit by the bullet.
Mohammad Ashraf Kumar, elder brother of Umar said, “My brother, along with some other local boys had gone to Darazpora area of Shopian in a Sumo vehicle. On reaching Darazpora, as Umar got down from the Sumo, he was shot right there by the forces.”
“Shortly after he was being taken to the hospital, Umar closed his eyes forever in our neighboring village. We came to know about his death from the locals of that area,” Kumar added.
Ashraf said that before leaving his home Umar had informed his family that he was going to play cricket in a local playground, however, they were unaware about the fact that he has actually gone to the encounter site.
Another brother of Umar namely Parvaiz Ahmad said, “It is unjustifiable that civilians are being killed each and every day, it is stone Vs bullet.”
On Wednesday, at least 30 youth sustained injuries during clashes near the encounter site in Turkwangam village of Shopian district following which the militants managed to escape from the spot.
The locals of Turkwangam village told ‘Kashmir Images’ that forces destroyed two houses including the one that belonged to the father in-law of Zeenat –ul-Islam, a top Hizb Commander who was believed to be among the trapped militants.
