Our Only Hope Snatched, Says Nowpora Teenager’s Family

Pulwama, Jun 16: Vikar Ahmad Rather son of Ghulam Mohammad Rather resident of Nowpora Payeen village of Pulwama district was the lone hope for his parents as his elder married brother is living separately from the last few years.

13 year old Vikar, a 9th class student at government High School Achan Pulwama was targeted at main Chowk Nowpora.

He received bullet injury in the right side of his chest and was shifted to district hospital Pulwama, later he succumbed on the way to SMHS hospital in Srinagar.

Locals alleged that he was targeted at the moment when there was no stone pelting.

“Yes there was stone pelting after announcement on loudspeaker in a local mosque was made asking people to come out of houses however, the moment Vikar was killed, there was no stone pelting going on,” said a local

Locals alleged that harassing people in the area has become order of the day and forces are regularly snatching mobiles phones and identity cards of local youth and they are asked to come to Lassipora camp.

When they go there they are harassed and beaten, that is the reason locals youth are angered over forces and pelt stones on them, they added.

In less than 6 hours property belonging to local active Aabid Manzoor Magray @ Saju tiger was damaged twice and there was no resistance from locals at all however, they came third time in less than 24 hours to damage their property and locals showed little resistance and forces used aerial firing, they added

When protestors were chased away and normalcy restored in the area, forces fired indiscriminately on the locals resulted in killing of the youth and injury to a girl, they said.

Vikar belonging to economically very weak family was last hope for his poor parents as his elder brother is living separate and both his sisters are married.

His father Ghulam Mohammad Rather a labour by profession said that forces have snatched his last hope.

“For what have they left us to live. They should have killed us all,” he said.
Story: Jahangeer Ganaie