Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Tufail Matoo,17
June 11
Rafiq Ahmad Bangaroo,25
June 19
On June 11,when protests erupted in Srinagar against the killing of schoolboy Tufail Ahmad Matoo,Rafiq was reportedly beaten up by some CRPF personnel. He was admitted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences with head injuries. On June 19,he succumbed to his injures. His father,Abdul Ahmad Bangroo,remembers him as a hardworking boy who helped the family overcome their mounting debt. After failing to clear the Class X exam,Rafiq had opted to help his father in shawl weaving.
Javid Ahmad Malla,18
June 20
Javid was returning home from the funeral of his cousin,Rafiq Ahmad Bangroo,when the CRPF personnel opened fire on the mourners in Noorbagh,in downtown Srinagar city. Some of the mourners had pelted stones at a mobile CRPF bunker. A bullet hit Javid on his neck. Javid was rushed to the local hospital,where he was declared brought dead. Javid,who had to drop out of school to support his family,is remembered as a cricket buff.
Firdous Ahmad Khan,19
June 25
When Firdous left his home at Nigli in Sopore town last week,he told his parents that he was going to irrigate the familys fields on the outskirts of the village. On the way,he heard slogans,and rushed towards the neighboring locality of Kranshawan. Before he could reach the spot,the teenager was reportedly hit by a bullet. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. I wanted to give him a good education,but my dream got shattered when the CRPF killed my son, says his father,Nazir Ahmad Khan.
Shakeel Ahmad Gania,21
June 25
A resident of Lalad village in Sopore,Shakeel had recently managed to secure some contracts for electrical works in private and government buildings. Over the last one year,he had started contributing to the familys income. Ganai was killed when CRPF personnel opened fire at Krankshivan locality in Sopore town,where a large crowd had gathered to ask the police to hand over the body of a local militant who they believed was a civilian. My son used to tell me that he would fulfill all my wishes,but he was snatched away from us by the forces, says his 60-year-old father,Aziz Gania. Now,who is going to look after our family? I am old and my other son is still a minor, he adds.
Asif Rather,9
June 26
Minutes after he left home to look for his elder brother,this schoolboy took a bullet on his chest,fired by CRPF personnel. He was shot just outside his house at Delina village on the outskirts of Baramulla town. He was a nine-year-old. Even if my son would have thrown a stone at any person,it could not have harmed anyone, says his grieving father,Ghulam Ahmad Rather,who works in the Jamp;K Polices Home Guards department. Relatives and neighbours recall Asif as a polite boy who wanted to become a doctor.
Bilal Ahmad Wani,21
June 27
A keen footballer,Bilal was a member of the local soccer club,Al Mustafa Football Club,Sopore. On the evening of June 27,he was reportedly chatting with his friends at Kralteng,when a rubber bullet fired by CRPF personnel hit him on the neck. His father,Mohammad Maqbool Wani,is a manual labourer. Eyewitnesses said the CRPF opened fire when a group of children booed at them. The CRPF fired a tear smoke shell to disperse the children. As the smoke engulfed the place,the CRPF men fired a bullet that hit him directly in his neck, said Zubair Ahmad,an eyewitness.
Tajamul Bashir,19
June 28
A college student,Tajamul was reportedly killed by CRPF personnel on the outskirts of Sopore,when some protestors were heading towards the town. A resident of Wadura village,Bashir belonged to a poor family,and worked as a part time labourer to support his education. He was killed near the CRPF camp on the outskirts of Sopore town when CRPF opened fire on a demonstration, said his friend Ajaz Ahmad.
Shujat-ul-Islam Baba,17
June 29
During a protest in Anantnag district in South Kashmir on June 29,three civilians were killed when security forces opened fire on a group of protestors. Among the dead was Shujat,the lone breadwinner of his family. While he was pursuing his studies through distance education,he was also working as a salesman, says Javid Ahmed,a neighbour. His death has left his family comprising his mother,younger brother and sister shell-shocked. In 1996,Shujats father,Mohammad Ashraf,was killed by renegades.
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khanday,15
June 29
A Class X student of S K Colony in Anantnag,Ishtiyaq was the youngest among the three killed in the Anantnag firing. He was the only son of his parents. They police killed him inside his house, alleged a relative. Ishtiyaq was talking to his friends when police chased a small group of protestors. He was frightened. He rushed to his house and was killed there.
Imtiyaz Ahmed Itoo,17
June 29
Imtiyaz worked at a local bakery shop at S K Colony in Anantnag,According to locals,Imtiyaz had been living in Anantnag for the last four years. He was the third youth killed in the firing at Anantnag. Itoo dreamt of running his own bakery shop to support his father. He worked very hard for this dream,but destiny had something else in store, said Tariq Ahmed,a local resident.
