Terrorists barge into Kashmir home, kill boy for denying night shelter

Sahil (17) was student of class 11th in Anantnag in South Kashmir

ANANTNAG | Updated: 07 October, 2023 10:57 am IST

Sahil did not let terrorists take shelter in him home for a night.

ANANTNAG: It was time for the day’s last prayer, Isha, in Kashmir. Bashir Ahmad Dar and his wife were singing praises of Allah for granting them peace in the tumultuous region. Their younger son Sahil was proudly presenting his school progress report to his sister Nadia. But everything was to change in a few minutes.

Suddenly, two masked terrorists walked into their non-descript home in Wanihama village of Anantnag. They shot dead their dream and injured their faith. Frantic life-saving efforts ensued and a pall of gloom descended on the village.

Sahil Bashir Dar (17), was rushed to the Anantnag district hospital and later shifted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar but could not be saved.

His crime: he took on the Pakistan-backed terrorists from forcibly entering his home for a night’s stay.

“We want justice”, cries Nadia, his sister.

On Wednesday night, their mother was offering prayers on the ground floor of their house while their father and elder brother were out in the village mosque to offer Isha namaz.

At 8:10 pm, their mother noticed two masked men entering their courtyard. “Who is this? What do you want? Stop right there,” she demanded.

Unfazed, the two men continued their march towards their home with a frightening demeanour. She thought thieves had entered their home and started shouting to alert neighbours.

Hearing the commotion, Sahil came rushing out of the kitchen and caught hold of one of the terrorists. “They said they would stay at our home. But Sahil said they were not welcome. During the ensuing scuffle, one of them took out a pistol and shot in the face and neck of Sahil and fled away,” recounts Nadia.

Sahil breathed his last at the Srinagar hospital around 24 hours later.

Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told The New Indian that the police had launched a manhunt to nab the terrorists responsible for the killing of the innocent boy. “A rigorous investigation has also been initiated,” he informed.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the Valley and has left many worrying for their life.

“Are terrorists going to enter our houses and kill us and our families mercilessly? This is unacceptable. We want justice. We want to see them killed,” demanded a villager in Wanihama.

Social, political and religious organisations have come forward to condemn the killing and have praised Sahil for his bravery and sacrifice in war against terrorism.

For many, the murder is a grim reminder of the violence and terror that the people of Kashmir have been subjected by Pakistan for decades.