Muhammad Yusuf Sheikh, a former soldier, regrets that his own son was killed by the government forces.
Sheikh’s son Younis, 16, of Saimoh village of Tral, was critically injured after the forces fired pellets at him at Gulab Bagh, where three militants were killed in a gunfight with the forces on Wednesday evening.
He was initially taken to PHC Dadsara and later died on way to a Srinagar hospital.
“I never expected that one day my own son will be killed by the forces. I have gone speechless after they killed my beloved son,” said Muhammad Yusuf Sheikh, father of the slain teen.
Asked by reporters whether he will approach the government or an investigative agency to seek an inquiry into the killing of his son, Sheikh said, “No.”
Local residents said that the forces deliberately fired pellets into Younis’ chest even though he was at quite distance from the gunfight site.
Younis was laid to rest late Wednesday night at his native Saimoh village in Tral. Two back to back funeral prayers were held in which thousands of people participated.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Sikhs from Saimooh also participated in his last rites. Sikh women were seen wailing, beating the chest and consoling the family members of the deceased.
Sheikh said on Wednesday Younis left home to meet his cousin in Gulab Bagh village.
“Before leaving home he took a bath and wore fresh clothes. That was the last moment I saw him alive,” he said and broke down.
Shiekh had retired four years ago and currently he is working at J&K Bank in Saimoh.
Locals remember Younis as a humble, well-mannered boy “who was passionate about the freedom struggle of Kashmir”. He was studying in class 10 at the Central Public Mission School, Tral. He completed his examination recently and was waiting for the results.
“Little did we know that he will pass away before his results,” his cousin Ashiq Hussain Sheikh said.
