Won't send our men to Kashmir now: Villagers

Bahalnagar: As the convoy of five killed villagers Mursalim Seikh(35),Kamaruddin Seikh(32),Rafiqul Seikh(28) Mohammad Rafiq Seikh(35) and Naimudin Seikh(38), arrived at the Bahalnagar village, thousands of villagers received them amid tears.  

Villagers opened community kitchen  on the occasion of mass burial of co-villagers. Moulana Bani Israiil, the local imam of mosque said that victims’ family members are in no position to cook food for them, so villagers collected '100 and one kg rice from locals. Later, extra rice and money will be  distributed to the bereaved family members.

Local village youth  Mustafizur Rahman pointed out that this day will be marked as the blackest day of their village.

He and his friend Hyder Ali  said, “They did not go  for job in any foreign country like Pakistan or Bangladesh. They went to Kashmir in their own country. Why were they killed like flies? Why they did not get any protection?

Others said the state government never tried to  develop their village. If they get job here, they will  never  go to the troubled Kashmir.  All the villagers vowed that  they  will  never  go again to Kashmir despite facing proverty.                                                                     

Noimuddin Sheikh, Mursalim Sheikh, Rofik Sheikh, Kamruddin Sheikh and Rofikul Sheikh, who used to work at apple gardens in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, were shot dead by the terrorists in the Valley on Tuesday night.

Another labourer Jahiruddin Sheikh, who was injured and nourishing his wound in a hospital in Kashmir, got married merely two months back.

Murshidabad is over 200 km from Kolkata near Bangladesh border.

The Bahal Nagar village has been a regular supplier of labourers to the trouble-torn Valley for the last two decades, but never ever they faced any problem there.

“We still can’t believe that Noimuddin, Mursalim have been killed. They are our next door neighbours. Two of my sons also work in Kashmir. They came back last week. I myself has worked in Kashmir for 10-15 years, we never faced such a situation.

“I have asked my sons not to go back (to Kashmir) and look for job in the district or in Kolkata,” 60 year-old Nasiruddin Ali, who himself used to work in apple gardens, said.