Budgam, July 23: Three decades after losing its patriarch in the line of duty, the Qureshi family of Lolipora in Beerwah has once again been engulfed in grief. On Wednesday, Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was martyred in a terrorist attack in Anantnag, leaving behind a devastated family and a village mourning the loss of a brave son.

Ashiq, 45, was killed after terrorists opened fire on a police party near Lal Chowk in south Kashmir's Anantnag district while he was performing his official duties. He was critically injured in the attack and rushed to Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, where doctors declared him brought dead.
His martyrdom has reopened old wounds for the Qureshi family. In the early 1990s, Ashiq's father, Ghulam Mohiuddin Qureshi, also a Head Constable in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, lost his life after being caught in a landslide in Ramban while on official duty. Determined to carry forward his father's legacy of service, Ashiq joined the police force under the compassionate appointment policy and served with dedication and integrity for years.
For the people of Lolipora, he was far more than a policeman. He was a humble neighbour, a devoted son who cared for his widowed mother, a loving husband, a responsible father and a dependable friend who was always ready to lend a helping hand.
As the Tricolour-draped coffin arrived in the village on Wednesday evening, an overwhelming silence gave way to scenes of profound sorrow. Hundreds of mourners lined both sides of the road to receive the fallen policeman, while women broke down in tears and men struggled to contain their emotions.
The village echoed with emotional slogans of "Shaheed Amar Rahe," "Ashiq Tere Khoon Se Inquilab Aayega," and "Shaheed Ki Jo Maut Hai, Woh Qaum Ki Hayat Hai," reflecting both grief and pride in the sacrifice of one of their own.
Senior police officers, led by DIG Central Kashmir Range Rajiv Omprakash Pandey and SSP Budgam Hariprasad K.K., joined thousands of mourners to pay their last respects. Deputy Commissioner Budgam, senior civil officials and people from Beerwah and adjoining areas also attended the funeral, making it one of the largest gatherings witnessed by the village in recent years.
Family members recalled that Ashiq had spoken to them over the phone barely an hour before the attack. None imagined it would be their final conversation.
He leaves behind his wife, two sons, a daughter, his aged mother, a brother and three married sisters—a family now burdened with the pain of losing two generations in the service of the nation.
Remembering him, local resident Zubair Ahmad described Ashiq as a man of exceptional character.
"He wore the uniform with honour and lived with honesty. He was kind, humble and always ready to help others. We have lost not only a brave policeman but a noble human being," he said.
Another villager, Rafiq Ahmad, said Ashiq's death had shaken the entire community.
"He was the backbone of his family and fulfilled every responsibility with dignity. No compensation can replace such a loss, but the family deserves every possible support, and those responsible for this cowardly act must be brought to justice," he said.
The terrorist attack has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, civil society organisations and citizens across Jammu and Kashmir, who described it as a cowardly assault on peace and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.
As darkness descended over Lolipora, the cries of mourning gradually faded, but the pain remained etched in every heart. For the Qureshi family, history has repeated itself with heartbreaking cruelty—a father lost while serving the people, and decades later, a son laying down his life in the same uniform.
Their sacrifice stands as a solemn reminder of the courage, duty and unwavering commitment of those who protect the nation, often at the ultimate cost.