In a solemn ceremony, Mohammad Sharief, a member of the Village Defence Guards (VDG), was laid to rest with full state honors at his ancestral village of Panara. A sea of mourners, braving heavy rain, paid their last respects to the brave soul who lost his life while fighting against Pakistani terrorists in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur, Jammu, two days ago.
A Family’s Grief and Pride
Sharief left behind a grieving wife, Fatima Begum, four minor daughters aged between 5 and 15 years, and an aged mother. While proud of her husband’s sacrifice for the nation, Begum expressed anguish at the loss of their sole breadwinner. “Who will take care of my five minor daughters now?” she asked as her shell-shocked daughters sat in front of her.
According to the police, the terrorists Sharief encountered are believed to have infiltrated Pakistan to carry out terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Initially, the Army has taken charge of the search operation for the terrorists. Additionally, these terrorists are believed to be divided into two groups. Moreover, they are hiding in the thickly forested and hilly terrain.
Relentless Search for Terrorists
Anand Jain, ADGP Jammu Zone, stated on a tip-off that the police and local VDGs had fanned out in the hilly area. They spotted a group of three terrorists, and in the ensuing retaliatory fire, Mohammad Sharief lost his life.
Mohd Abaaz, Sharief’s brother and a fellow VDG member, narrated the encounter, “There were two groups of terrorists with nine members. I told him to be careful, but he was caught in an open area and became a direct target. They rained about 50 bullets non-stop (before fleeing).”
Hundreds of locals from the villages and adjoining areas, including VDG members, joined Sharief’s funeral amid adverse weather conditions, expressing their hope that the government would announce rehabilitation for the impoverished family that lost its sole breadwinner.
For detailed story, please visit: Awaz the voice
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