Journalism of Courage
Premium
This is an archive article published on September 21, 2015
As family mourns 3-yr-old Burhan, Valley shuts down
The three-year-old was in the lap of his father when unidentified gunmen opened fire outside their house at Sagipora. Both father and son were killed in the shooting on Friday evening.
2 min read
Burhan’s funeral procession in Sagipora village near Sopore town on Saturday. (Source: Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)
“Asi ha tchuni baey sund telan, magar tche kutu gokh Burhano (We don’t complain about the separation of our brother, but where have you gone, Burhan),” cries Bashir Ahmad Bhat’s sister. In Sagipora, there is only one question everyone is asking — why was Burhan killed?
The three-year-old was in the lap of his father when unidentified gunmen opened fire outside their house at Sagipora. Both father and son were killed in the shooting on Friday evening. While the father was declared brought dead by the hospital, Burhan succumbed a day later.
[related-post]
Burhan studied at the Welkin Educational Trust in Sopore – some 17 km from his village. On Friday, he had skipped his school.
“He had a sore throat and had to go to a doctor…For the whole day, he was with his father and he died with him,” said Burhan’s uncle Parvez Ahmad Bhat.
“He (Bashir) went to mosque to offer prayers. When he returned, he picked up Burhan,” said Parvez. “They (gunmen) tried to separate him from his father but when he resisted, they shot him in his chest. They fired several more shots. One bullet pierced Burhan’s abdomen,” he added.
The three gunmen, villagers said, were in their late teens.
Meanwhile, the Valley observed a complete shutdown on Sunday to protest the killings. The shutdown call was given by Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Normal life was hit in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir. In Sopore, protesters clashed with police.
Advertisement
Top Stories
Live Blog
Advertisement
Loading Taboola...
Advertisement