'Instead of help, bullets were pumped into his chest', alleges Mehrajudin's family

By: Suhail Ajmal/G M Bhat

Shahgund (Bandipore): On Saturday (January 7) Hajira completed her household chores early as her son, Mehrajudin Hajam, had promised her that he would take her to SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) for a check up. However, Mehraj failed to keep up his promise as he reached home dead. Mehraj, the lone bread winner of his family, was killed at Sopore in north Kashmir on Friday last week after militants attacked a police party. Police claimed the victim was killed in “cross firing.” But Mehraj’s family terms police version as a “blatant lie.” “He (Mehraj) was killed after he was injured. He was hit by a bullet. He was crying for help,” his father Ghulam Muhammad quoted witnesses as having told him.
“Instead of help, bullets were pumped into his chest,” he alleged.
According to witnesses, Mehraj on that fateful day left from his shop to get some material for his embroidery business. “Police tried to label him as a militant and put a rifle in front of him, but later when they found that many were witness to it, they changed the statement. Even on Radio news, they said a militant was killed but due to protests police changed the statement and termed it as the result of cross firing,” said his relative Ajaz Hajam.
“We were told that Mehraj after sustaining injuries was taken to the nearby SOG camp in Sopore. When we contacted the camp they told us that a militant was killed in the firing whose body is lying with them," he added.
One of the relatives of the deceased said that they became suspicious and informed the Police Station Hajin. “Immediately a police party from Hajin police station reached our home and sought detailed bio data of Mehrajudin and informed us that he has been killed,” he said.
Being a hard worker and good embroidery artist, Mehraj never let his clients down and had a good clientele. However, Mehraj’s dream to establish a full-fledged embroidery centre in neighboring Sopore town stands shattered.
“Being the eldest in the family, Mehrajudin had taken over the reins of the family after his father and mother felt ill eight years ago. He sacrificed his childhood for his family,” said his father Ghulam Muhammad.
His brother and two sisters are finding it hard to believe that their brother is no more. He was the lone breadwinner of the family. Before bursting into tears, his ailing mother said that he cannot die and leave them alone. “Now who will look after us?” Hajira wailed.
Mehrajudin’s friends said that his only concern was to provide relief to his ailing parents and give education to his siblings. “He was only bothered about his work. He started earning from his early childhood. He went to Delhi for business but returned after his father fell ill. Our brother did everything what a father and mother can do for a child. He ruined his future and left studies for us. They should have killed us before snatching him,” said his inconsolable sister Parveena.
Mehrajudin is survived by an aged father and mother, a younger brother and two sisters.
-GKNN