Shopian Martyr Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz Would Have Turned 23 in June

Fayaz, the only son of an apple farmer, became the first person from Kulgam to get into the NDA.

Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz Parray, who was found dead with bullet wounds in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, would have turned 23 this June.

The Only Son

Fayaz, the only son of an apple farmer, became the first person from South Kashmir’s Kulgam to get into the National Defence Academy.

He is survived by his parents and two sisters, who are students of Darul Uloom in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband. Fayaz was in Shopian to attend a relative’s wedding when he was abducted by militants at around 10 pm on 9 May. He was later found dead.

His father said he had no idea why anyone would kill Fayaz. He never harmed anyone, said his mother, Jameela.

Also Read: Bullet-Riddled Body of Army Lieutenant Found in Kashmir’s Shopian

Kulgam’s Pride

Fayaz completed his schooling from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Aishmuqam, Anantnag in 2012. He graduated from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in 2015. He then underwent training at the National Defence Academy near Pune and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun before being commissioned.

On 10 December 2016, he was posted with the Rajputana Rifles in J&K’s Akhnoor sector.

Also Read: Can We Separate Ummer Fayyaz’s Killing From Identity Politics?

Fayaz was popular among the troops. During his time at the NDA, he was a part of the hockey team. He also enjoyed volleyball and cricket.