Yet another brave army man from Kashmir fell victim to terrorist bullets on November 24, 2018.
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, from the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit, was hit by a volley of terrorist bullets during an anti-terror encounter at Batagund village, in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. During the anti-terror operation, six Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were also killed.
He was rushed to a hospital; however, the slain soldier succumbed to his injuries (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un).
The Man Who Gave Up Militancy And Became An Army Man!
Nazir Ahmed Wani was a militant in the ’90s. Like many misguided brethren, he too had taken up the gun to wage ‘jihad’ for Kashmir. However, he soon realised the futility of mindless violence orchestrated by the Pakistan sponsored militants. He surrendered to the army and became a counter-insurgent.
From being an ikhwan (a terrorist who surrenders and becomes involved in counter-insurgency operations), he went on to become a highly decorated army man. He was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry in August 2007 and a bar to the Sena Medal on the eve of the Independence Day in 2018.
Ahmed Wani could have continued being one of many misguided brothers but he chose to walk on the right path and attained martyrdom for Kashmir!
‘You Are Not Alone’
They say a picture is worth a thousand words! It was heart-breaking to see the photo of his grieving father being consoled by an army officer. The pain of losing a young son was so profoundly manifest on his old father’s face that it would move anyone to tears.
“You are not alone,” said an Indian Army officer to the father of the braveheart while consoling him. The 38-year-old martyr is survived by his wife and two children. He belonged to Cheki Ashmuji village in Kulgam tehsil, in the terror-infested south Kashmir district of Kulgam.
A Soldier’s Farewell: The Final Salute
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who had begun his army career with the Territorial Army’s 162 Battalion in 2004, received a 21-gun salute on November 26, 2018, as the martyr’s body, wrapped in the Tricolour, was lowered into the grave. Hundreds of villagers had gathered to bid a tearful farewell to the son of the soil in his native village in Kulgam.
“Ahmed Wani was the epitome of bravery as he continued his relentless pursuit against terrorism specifically in South Kashmir,” a senior Army officer was quoted as saying.
Why Do You Kill Your Own Brothers?
If I may, I would brand these killers as Kashmiri brothers under the thrall of Pakistan, whose souls are chained by Pakistani masterminds who sacrifice those young lives for their own political agenda.
It gives me extreme anguish to know that Kashmir has turned into a battlefield where misguided rage takes the lives of both–those protecting the land, and those who are set to destroy it.
Rest in peace, brave Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani! Kashmir is indebted to you for your indomitable courage and sacrifice!