Killing of a bright student Rafiya Nazir and CRPF Trooper Mukhtar Ahmad is not merely a heinous terror act against individuals but against the Kashmiriyat, said several residents, barely able to hide their collective anger and uncertainty about the future of surviving family members of the victim. A local resident Sadiq Manzoor told KNA that these two recent terror incidents have exposed hypocrisy of Pakistani state- sponsored terror machinery and its handful associates within Kashmir.
“Even an elderly man Ghulam Nabi was not spared. By grace of god, he has survived but terrorists targeting our children, youth and elders are a chilling reminder for the entire Kashmiri society to stand united against the terror perpetrators. Thousands of families have been irreparably damaged by Pakistan-backed terrorists and social fabric of our society now lies in tatters,” Sadiq Manzoor told KNA.
Rafiya, 19 year old, was killed recently when terrorists hurled a grenade at busy Amira Kadal market. She had shared her dream and her zest for life with the family members after announcement of class 12th exam result. Mukhtar was a CRPF trooper and the whole town of Shopian was proud of the young soldier.
“Today we are mourning Rafiya, Mukhtar and many other innocents. They had a unique and beautiful life. We cannot afford to go back to normal routine after paying token remembrance. We must all stand in solidarity with these families living with scars of terrorist acts and fight the radicalization and Pakistani propaganda in our community," a local resident, Nisar Ahmad Rather told the KNA.
A well-educated farmer, Imtiyaz Ahmad Tenga told the KNA that many families he met after Rafiya’s killing were heartbroken and livid over widespread atrocities committed by terrorists. He also said that innocent civilians slaughter by terrorists has been going on for many decades but people cannot go on living like this with heart blown to pieces.
“Terrorists who are misguiding our youth have no mercy and we have seen they don't spare our elders, women and children. We cannot be numb to bombing that happens inside our heart after terrorist’s kill our family. I have no doubt these terrorists are acting against Kashmiriyat and it is also true a whopping majority wants development not bloodshed. I am hopeful very soon this mindless terrorism will end and we will be able to rebuild our lives,” Tenga told the KNA.
Several other residents talking to KNA on the condition of anonymity said targeting of innocent civilians like Rafiya is a well-tested modus operandi of Pakistan sponsored terrorists. They further argued that through such despicable act, the butchers tend to send a message that you cannot feel safe in your streets and in you homes.
“But, suddenly things have changed. Now, people are seeing the development. They are reaping the benefits of peace and progress. Everyone wants to feel safe and live a normal life. This has rattled many operatives of terror eco-system. The government is working incessantly to make citizens feel safer. For the first time in last 30 years common people came out on the street to protest against terrorist attacks and took a solemn vow to fight terrorism. It is terrorists who are now scared," the resident told KNA.
KNA also tried to reach out to several human rights groups based in Kashmir valley for a statement, but they refused to speak on innocent civilian killings by Pak-backed terrorist citing ongoing investigation in these cases.