Sons of Misfortune: Kashmir has Cost These Mothers Their Children

Meet the four mothers who lost their sons and only financial support to the recent Kashmir unrest. (Photo: The Quint)

The Kashmir Valley has been on the boil since the face of the new militancy Burhan Wani was shot dead. Killed on 8 July 2016, Burhan’s death was followed by a three month-long deadly unrest that took many lives. At least 92 people were killed and over 12,000 injured in clashes between protesters and security forces.

In Kashmir Conflict: Grieving Mothers on Both Sides, The Quint has spoken to four mothers who lost their sons and the only source of financial support to the recent unrest.

Rafiqa Banoo’s 18-year-old son, Irfan Fayaz Wani, died after security forces fired a tear smoke shell at him, in old Srinagar city. After her husband succumbed to cardiac arrest, she looked to Irfan for financial support.

Irfan was also a known stone-pelter. His family believes his killing was targeted.

Twenty-three-year-old Afroz Ahmad Lone was killed when protesters pushed a police vehicle into the Jhelum from Sangam bridge in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

He was also a talented and well-known cricketer in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

In the clashes between protestors and security forces, 18-year-old Shakeel Ahmad Ganai lost his life. He was taken to the district hospital in Pulwama with pellet injuries in his chest, where he was declared 'brought dead' by the doctors.

His mother, Shameema Begum, misses him. The studious and hardworking medical student was her only hope to come out of poverty that plagues the family.

Ravi Paul of 10 Dogra Regiment was one of the 18 soldiers who lost their lives in the Uri attack. Paul’s 80-year-old mother continues to grieve his death. He has been survived by a wife and two sons.

Video Editor: Kunal Mehra

Camera:

Rafiqa Banoo: Syed Shahriyar

Shameena Begum: Vikar Syed

Afroz Ahmad Lone’s Mother: Muneeb Ul Islam

Maalvi Devi: Ravinder