Imran Qayoom would have turned 26 this October, but a CRPF bullet and lathis ensured that the only brother of two sisters would never see another birthday. A black flag, hung over the gate of his under construction home in the Bagh-e-Mehtab area, announces silently that Saturday will mark the 40th day of Imran’s death. Imran died on the 12th August along with 11 others who were victims of police and CRPF firing on that day, the day after authorities had imposed a curfew following the death of Hurriyat leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz during the ‘Muzzafarbad Chalo’.
At the time Imran was shot he was standing on the main road along with his friends watching the CRPF battle with pro-freedom protesters hardly hundred meters from his home. His friend, Suhail who was with Imran at that moment says, “ We were watching the protesters. When suddenly the CRPF started firing from one end of the road to another end. I looked to my side and saw that Imran was covered in blood, but he was still breathing. We managed to get him in a ambulance which was passing by.”
But even the timely appearance of the ambulance was not enough to save Imran. Police and CRPF stopped the ambulance and did not allow them to proceed and even beat up the injured Imran along with Suhail and a few other friends who had been taking Imran to hospital. Press Photographers who were present their recorded the whole thing in their cameras. The image was later to become one the most defining of the pro-freedom protests. ‘When we reached the hospital, it was too late.’ An emotional Suhail says while fighting tears.
Imran lived with his mother and two sisters. Life had been a continuous struggle since their father had abandoned them four years ago and Imran who had barely finished his bachelors in commerce had been the main-bread earner of the family. But Life had started looking up. His elder sister, Aniza, 27, had begun work as an engineer in the irrigation department recently and his younger sister 22 year-old Shabila had just finished her graduation. Imran had become confident enough to leave his job as field officer of Airtel to start his own construction business hardly two months before his death. He had even started the construction of the second floor of his house. But fate had something else in store for the family. Imran’s sister, Aniza says, “He left his studies for us. After our father left us, it was he was who made our younger sister study and complete her graduation. He used run the entire home. He had even got a small contract near Batpora but he could never complete it.” Imran had been shot at around 11 AM in the morning but it was not until 4 PM that Imran’s family heard about their loss. Aniza says when they heard the gunshots; they thought the CRPF was firing in the air.
“ We went to our top floor but after the CRPF started breaking the window panes of nearby houses I told mother that it was better that we go down. We did not know anything had happened to Imran. All the neighbors knew but no one told us.”
“It was later when one of Imran’s friends father came to us and asked if we knew where Imran was that we realized the truth.” Aniza says while she tries to control her tears. As Aniza talks, Imran’s 53-year-old mother Mumtaza Begum has not spoken a word. She sits next to her eldest daughter like a statue of grief. She is still in shock, after 40 days unable to come to terms with her son’s death. Aniza says, “ Mother has had an open heart surgery years ago. She does not talk much now.”
So far no government official has visited the family to enquire into Imran’s death. “Police has registered a case stating Imran was pelting stones but when I visited the police station to ask them to change that the police officer incharge refused and said that ‘the statement will not change, go to the Supreme Court if you want to change it.’”Aniza says, “ I want justice for my brother but I am not able to go to the Police station. Its scary.”
At the time Imran was shot he was standing on the main road along with his friends watching the CRPF battle with pro-freedom protesters hardly hundred meters from his home. His friend, Suhail who was with Imran at that moment says, “ We were watching the protesters. When suddenly the CRPF started firing from one end of the road to another end. I looked to my side and saw that Imran was covered in blood, but he was still breathing. We managed to get him in a ambulance which was passing by.”
But even the timely appearance of the ambulance was not enough to save Imran. Police and CRPF stopped the ambulance and did not allow them to proceed and even beat up the injured Imran along with Suhail and a few other friends who had been taking Imran to hospital. Press Photographers who were present their recorded the whole thing in their cameras. The image was later to become one the most defining of the pro-freedom protests. ‘When we reached the hospital, it was too late.’ An emotional Suhail says while fighting tears.
Imran lived with his mother and two sisters. Life had been a continuous struggle since their father had abandoned them four years ago and Imran who had barely finished his bachelors in commerce had been the main-bread earner of the family. But Life had started looking up. His elder sister, Aniza, 27, had begun work as an engineer in the irrigation department recently and his younger sister 22 year-old Shabila had just finished her graduation. Imran had become confident enough to leave his job as field officer of Airtel to start his own construction business hardly two months before his death. He had even started the construction of the second floor of his house. But fate had something else in store for the family. Imran’s sister, Aniza says, “He left his studies for us. After our father left us, it was he was who made our younger sister study and complete her graduation. He used run the entire home. He had even got a small contract near Batpora but he could never complete it.” Imran had been shot at around 11 AM in the morning but it was not until 4 PM that Imran’s family heard about their loss. Aniza says when they heard the gunshots; they thought the CRPF was firing in the air.
“ We went to our top floor but after the CRPF started breaking the window panes of nearby houses I told mother that it was better that we go down. We did not know anything had happened to Imran. All the neighbors knew but no one told us.”
“It was later when one of Imran’s friends father came to us and asked if we knew where Imran was that we realized the truth.” Aniza says while she tries to control her tears. As Aniza talks, Imran’s 53-year-old mother Mumtaza Begum has not spoken a word. She sits next to her eldest daughter like a statue of grief. She is still in shock, after 40 days unable to come to terms with her son’s death. Aniza says, “ Mother has had an open heart surgery years ago. She does not talk much now.”
So far no government official has visited the family to enquire into Imran’s death. “Police has registered a case stating Imran was pelting stones but when I visited the police station to ask them to change that the police officer incharge refused and said that ‘the statement will not change, go to the Supreme Court if you want to change it.’”Aniza says, “ I want justice for my brother but I am not able to go to the Police station. Its scary.”
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