Srinagar: The 17-year old Farhat Dar– allegedly killed in police firing on Friday at Bandipora had a dream to send his father to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj. According to his father Ghulam Rasool Dar: “He had promised that one day he will send me for Haj.”
His father says that it was as if Farhat knew that he will die on Friday. During the morning hours, he went to hair salon, had a bath- wore new clothes and spent more than usual time in a mosque after congregational Friday prayers.
Ghulam Rasool Dar, a 50 year old man who is a local vendor and often rides a cart to earn livelihood at Naidkhai- Bandipora, wept bitterly when KNS correspondents visited his house-comprising of two rooms and a small kitchen. The rooms were not furnished- except for a few plastic covering the floor. Farhat has left behind a wailing mother, an elder sister, an aged grandmother and father who says his son was his only reason to live.
“Farhat always used to tell me that his dream is to send me for Haj and want to see her elder sister getting married,” Farhat’s father says in a sobbing tone. Farhat’s grandmother is not able to come out of the shock. She remains unconscious for a long time since her grandson was brought home dead. Neighbors say that whenever she regains consciousness, she asking for Farhat. “He is in Jannat (Paradise), he is a martyr, he is alive,” people said while trying to calm her.
“Farhat’s mother was silently sitting in a corner. She was wiping her tears with her headscarf-rest she wore no expressions on face. She doesn’t even answer to anyone’s call. Farhat’s sister was sitting besides her mother. As relatives were busy consoling her, she kept on crying. Where would I find you now my brother? Tell me that place where you are?” KNS reporters described the scene.
Basit Ahmad, Farhat’s close friend said while recounting latter’s killing that after Friday prayers he along with Farhat was going for the tuition classes. “Farhat’s family is very poor. He earlier had to leave his studies in midway to help his father but he had a great zeal for studies. He resumed his schooling and had to appear in class 10th examinations this year.” Basit says that most of the time, Farhat used to work as a laborer in the area to help his father. “He always used to remain excited about her sister’s wedding. He kept on saying that one day he will have a good job so that he could give comfortable living to his parents.” (KNS)