In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits continued to share and further strengthen the age-old bond of brotherhood and communal harmony at Y K Pora in Kulgam district by performing the last rites of an 80 years old Pandit woman.
The 80 years old woman of Y K Pora, Kulgam, had gone to Mattan area of Islamabad district to attend a marriage ceremony of her relatives. However, her condition deteriorated there and she breathed her last. She was brought to her native village, where hundreds of Muslims, especially neighbours and locals were waiting for her body.
Locals told media men that they have been living together for decades and share a strong bond. “The deceased was a great human being who would visit Muslims on the occasion of festivals and also whenever anyone among us would die. She was part and parcel of the composite culture and today, it is our duty to return the favour by ensuring her last rites are performed as per their religious rites,” said Altaf Ahmed, a local.
The deceased, Dulari Bhat, 80, wife of late Janki Nath, spent all her years in her native village Y K Pora along with locals of the area.
Subash Butt, the son of Dulari, said that they are thankful to the Muslims of the area who stood with them in this hour of grief. We have been living together and we didn’t left Kashmir, he said, adding, we have been living together with Muslims of the area, who are with us in time of this great loss.
Chuni Lal Bhat, a relative of Dulari, while thanking the Muslims of Y K Pora, said that Kashmir is the best example of communal harmony, brotherhood and Pandits and Muslims share a great and strong bond that has been there since decades.
“Today, Muslims of the area stood with us and participated in the last rites of Dulari. They remained present till Dulari was cremated,” he said, adding that Muslims and Pandits are incomplete without each other.
Pertinently, Kashmiri Pandits are boiling with anger against the authorities in the wake of killing of their community fellow Rahul Butt, who was working at Tehsil office Chadoora in Budgam district.—KMS
