Orphan siblings lose little father

Srinagar, June 03: A family of victim in Baramulla has said that Indian troops of CRPF has snatched and killed our father during indiscriminate firing on peaceful protestors in the town on June 20.

The fatal Indian police bullet that was fired at a mob on Monday evening, two young relatives have lost their little father, Saleem Rashid Ahangar. “Both our parents left us long back. It was Saleem Baya who was the father figure. The Indian police have snatched our little father from us,” says his 22-year-old sister Masarat Jan.

While comforting her younger brother, Aslam, who is profusely sobbing, Masarat breaks as she recalls how Saleem would insist that he would never let his siblings feel orphaned. “Today,” she adds, “are orphaned…O my God! Kill these policemen who killed my Saleem Baya.”

Saleem was sustaining his family on a limited salary he would earn from a private cellular company, Tata Indicom. “He was very keen on Masarat’s marriage. She was shortly going to be married off. Deedi would feel bad and tell us how she can leave us alone, but Saleem Baya was very keen on that,” Says Saleem’s younger brother Aslam.

Sameer Ahmad, Saleem’s cousin who is an eyewitness to his death, says that Saleem was shot from a police vehicle and was not allowed by the troops to be taken to the hospital in time, which led to his death.
 “When my sister gets married I will be the most satisfied person in this world. He always longed to see his sister in bridal wear but alas! Death did not allow him to realize his dreams,” says one of Saleem’s close friends. (RK--SHOWKAT NANDA)