Cop died aLone protecting the separatist

The local National Conference legislators didn’t even make that effort. Nor did any of the separatist leaders.

‘‘His mother asks me only one question: Why did they kill him? And believe me, I have no answer. If he had died protecting a government official, I would have understood,’’ said Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Mushtaq’s father. As is the practice, the state government has given Bhat’s family a compensation of Rs 2 lakh. ‘‘My son joined the police force to earn two meals for the family. He had no ambition, no plans,’’ he added. ‘‘Whenever I look at his child, when I see his wife’s blank eyes, I feel everything collapsing around me. The killing of our son has shattered us, but what’s pained us most is the way his death went unsung’’.

Mushtaq was among around 24-odd Jammu and Kashmir Police men who have been assigned to guard the separatist leadership. In fact, he had earlier been guarding National Conference MP Ali Mohammed Naik, and was only recently deputed to guard Lone. ‘‘We were a bit relieved. We thought he would be safe,’’ said the father. Mushtaq’s body was carried home to his family by his immediate superior, a DSP.