17 replies to this topic

[Azmat]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7965451.stm

Kashmiri Shia hail slain India patriot

By Altaf Hussain

BBC News, Dub, Indian-administered Kashmir

The funeral north of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir was just like those of countless others who have died violently in the insurgency over the past 20 years.

A son of the the soil was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in the village of Dub, north of Srinagar, on Tuesday, surrounded by thousands of mourners.

What made the ceremony unusual was that this was no militant who had died fighting the Indian army.

This was a Kashmiri who served with the Indian army and died fighting the militants.

Shabir Ahmed Malik was among eight Indian soldiers killed in a gun battle earlier this week with separatist militants in Kupwara.

'Pained'
Over the past two decades, hundreds of Kashmiris have died while fighting for India.

Among them are police officials and Ikhwanis, or "renegade" militants who have been persuaded or coerced - depending on who you believe - to abandon militancy and instead work for the Indian security forces. Most Ikhwanis were or are pariahs.

But Shabir, 21, joined the Indian army after passing his 12th class examination. He studied at the Sainik (army) School at Ganderbal.

Shabir's family and neighbours are proud of his service.

"He has become a hero. He died an honourable death. I am so happy, although I am also pained at his separation," says Mohammad Yasin, a neighbour and friend of the dead man.

Mr Yasin says he still regrets not being able to join the Indian army with Shabir.

"I too went with him that day. But only three boys were selected. I was not taken because I was over age. I still feel so bad about it.

"Even now, I have a passionate desire to do something for my country like Shabir has done."

Mr Yasin says that the moving send-off given to Shabir has inspired many more youths in the village to join the army.

'Fulfilled'
"I am 28," says Showkat Ahmed. "I have never in my life seen such a funeral. Such death is pride-worthy."

Such well-attended funerals are usually the preserve of militants killed by Indian troops.

Shabir's body was kept outside the "imambara" (Shia place of worship) and the villagers mourned beside it.

They beat their chests but unlike at the funerals of militants there was no slogan shouting.

The fact the villagers are minority Shia may in part explain their pro-India loyalties. Kashmir's insurgency over the past two decades has mostly been waged by Sunni militants.

Part of the Shia community has stayed away from the separatist campaign, although some leaders of the separatist movement do belong to the Shias.

The coffin was draped in India's tricolour before it was carried to the graveyard.

Shabir's brother, Ghiulam Mohammad, says: "I wanted him to become a doctor. But he had a passion for joining the army and was determined to complete his graduation so he could become an army officer.

"He was patriotic from his childhood. He wanted to do something for his country. His ambition has been fulfilled."

The villagers have been sharing the family's grief as well as its pride in what Shabir fought for.

"Every family here is bereaved. Every family is mourning," one villager said.

[Syed Arbab Ali]

stop posting indian propoganda.

[waz]

Complete bullsh*t, the Kashmiri Shia are just against the occupation as their sunni kin. This is the first time I have heard anything like this. As for him, he died as a munafiqeen…..You will always get some moron who has sold his soul for worldly gain.

[Rooh Afza]

This is BS I saw this on timesofindia, typical bindian garbage. Easy to spot from a mile away.

[Hellraiser006]

I hope he goes to hell along with the rest of those who are proud of his death.

[Siddharth]

xinhua photo gallery on funeral of Shahid Shabir Ahmad Malik
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/..._11067161_8.htm

Kashmiri relatives of Indian Army soldier Shabir Ahmed Malik mourn during his funeral procession in Dab, some 35 kilometers (22 miles) Northeast of Srinagar, India, Tuesday, March 24, 2009. Malik was killed in an ongoing battle which has claimed seven other army soldiers and sixteen suspected rebels, Lt Col. J.S. Brar of the Indian Army said.
(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

People gather for the funeral of Shabir Ahmad Malik, a Kashmiri Muslim soldier from the Indian army, in Dab, 35km (21 miles) north of Srinagar March 24, 2009. At least 19 people have been killed after four days of gun fighting between Indian soldiers and Muslim militants in disputed Kashmir near the Pakistan border, the army said on Monday. Four soldiers including Malik and five militants were killed on Monday alone, the army said, the highest number of people killed in a single firefight between Muslim militants and Indian troops in the Himalayan region in the past year. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli
(INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR CONFLICT POLITICS MILITARY)

[waz]

So where are the “thousands”? Looks like just his relatives……Anyhow f*ck him, traitors exist everywhere.

[Siddharth]

[anwerali]

I wonder why BBC headline sd Kashmiri Shia not Muslim .

[Hellraiser006]

I wonder why BBC headline sd Kashmiri Shia not Muslim .

the BBC are big fitnay-baz bastards.

[visioninthedark]

Another dirty indian attempt to create shia-sunni conflict and hatred ..... total b/s

I am Kashmiri and I am shia ..... and I know this is B/S

as Pakistanis ...... let us not forget Lalak Jan of the NLI who won Nishan-e-Haider in Kargil ..... Shia and Kashmiri .....

[Hellraiser006]

THis is pure crap, I am sure there are many sunnis who have died fighting for india too and think they are shaheed. Main unpar bhi utni hi lanat bhejta hoon jitni is harami par bhejraha hoon.

[Jahan]

Remember that Muslim soldier in the US army who died in Iraq? And the discussion that followed?

This isn't any different.

I wonder what the was the motive for posting this story item here - and that too from the BBC. As anwerali said, what was the point of flagging""Shia2 in the title and not just "Muslim." The fact that the man dying was a Shia has no bearing on the Kashmir issue - there are pobably cases similar to this about Sunnis too.

All the more reason, as I've argued elsewhere, to not let Kashmir go on the backburner. Because, the dissent within the new Kashmiri generation is slowly decreasing - that's the sad truth, but why shouldn't it? What is Pakistan doing for them?

[waz]

Yep, looks like thousands there [end sarcasm]. Did you look at last year’s protests and riots against your government? The BBC and other networks reported nearly a million…..Oh you also crushed them with bullets! One funeral changes nothing; the fact remains the Kashmiri people hate you Indians. By the way I’m Kashmiri….

[YHS]

This is not a shocker nor something new. Our history is filled with people like Shabir Ahmed Malik. There were musalmans who fought agains Mehmud Ghaznavi. There were also whole muslim units in Prithviraj Chauhan's army who fought against Sultan Muhammad Shahab-ud-Din Ghori. Then there were muslims who gave their support to the invading Brits against Nawab Mohammad Sirâjud Dawla. All these people had something in common: they were on the wrong side of history!

[Hellraiser006]

All these people had something in common: they were on the wrong side of history!

and in death they will be on the wrong side of sirat-e-mustaqeem......

[platinum786]

Well spotted guys, the attempt by the BBC to spread fitna amongst our ranks.

Also note the likes of Azmat, who specifically spread the hatred that suits them.

[pakistanzindabaad]

Closing topic...