Tral man loses battle for life, family loses hope

 

For exactly a week, the family of Mushtaq Ahmad including his two minor sons were hoping against hope that the injured Mushtaq will survive the injuries suffered during a grenade blast in Tral main market on September 21.

It was on this day that suspected militants lobbed a grenade on Works Minister’s cavalcade in Tral near General Bus Stand, resulting in the death of two civilians and grave injuries to more than 30 people.

Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh (35), S/o Ghulam Mohiudin Sheikh was also gravely injured and was referred to SKIMS for specialized treatment. However, he was not so lucky to live long, and breathed his last on September 27 at SKIMS after remaining in critical condition for a week altogether. The death only added to the death toll and the looming gloom of his family finally stuck them.

Mushtaq is survived by his wife, Fancy Jan (30) two sons: Sheikh Muneeb (09), and Sheikh Ehsan-ul-Haq (06), both studying in class 2 and pre-nursery respectively at Sabir Abdullah Public School, Tral.

The family has been left with nothing, as their lone bread earner is no more to take care of their needs.

Mushtaq was working as a salesperson at a local shop in Tral, and was doing his job when he, along with Pinky Kaur, was caught in death trap. Pincky lost his life the same day, but Mushtaq had to struggle for his life. He ultimately failed to emerge victorious in the struggle between life and death.

The family, along with his two sons are in deep shock and do not know where to go from here.

The relatives and neighbours are equally distressed and are worried about the future of his wife and kids, who have got no one to provide them with a shoulder of sympathy and hope.

“The family was entirely dependent on Mushtaq, who used to earn during the day and would feed his family in the evening, he was not any big-wig, but a commoner, who used to struggle for his family,” said a relative, adding that the tragedy has brought them on roads, with nowhere to go.

The death of Mushtaq is only the addition to the list on innocent civilians who lost their lives during these type of incidents.

On September 7 this year, during a grenade blast at Jehangir Chowk—Maqsood Ahmad Shah, Resident of Zalowa, Gopalpora—a commoner, carpenter by profession also fell into the trap of death, leaving his family in lurch. Apart from 30 years-old wife, Maqsood is also survived with two kids: Faizan Maqsood (09), Aneesa Maqsood (06).

The case of both the civilians is same. Both were the lone bread earners for their respective families, both have left their tender kids behind them, with no one to look after them. The death of both the innocent civilians has devastated the lives of their young wives. Both were earning hand-to-mouth, and both died of some unknown death.

Mushtaq and Maqsood were earning meagre sums per month and were happily fulfilling needs of their families, apart from spending on the education of their kids, but with the tragedy that has stuck both the families, the haunting question once again remains to be asked that who is going to cater to the needs of both the families; who will now arrange for the education of these kids, who have been rendered orphans in a blink of an eye.

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