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Volume 3, No. 2 - July 2003 |
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Survivors Speak
“I saw my world end before my eyes” “I ran to nearby government quarters but found
no one there. Crestfallen I lay under the outer wall of the quarters to
see the flames smoldering. By then everything inside had perished. I
started shivering with biting cold and in desperation rushed back home,
which was not engulfed by the fire. When I entered inside I found my
family members dead. I cried but there was none to respond. I went back
to the government quarters, only to find myself alone. The parental love
brought me back home again. I laid myself under their feet. Kissed them,
hugged them hoping that they would respond. But alas, they were dead.
Besides being shocked to see all my family members lying dead, I was
also frightened with the thought that the killers might come back and
shoot me dead too. I again went to top storey of the house and hid
myself under the heap of cow dung, motionless, for many hours. I wanted
to weep but the very thought of killers being around stopped me from
doing so. It was a long agonizing wait till dawn. With the first ray of
the sun becoming visible, I came down and lay under the feet of my
parents again. Then the thought came to me what to do alone. I got up,
collected my school bag, the dearest of my belongings and put it around
my neck. Then I collected the papers regarding ownership of the house
and land we own, from my father’s suitcase and also took out the
“mangalsutra” which my mother was wearing. I put both these things in my
school bag. Then I turned around to see my sister, Poonam-ba, whom I
loved most. The only thing she was having was a small handkerchief in
her “pheran” pocket. I took it out too and put in my bag. I wanted to
leave but where I didn’t know? It was around 6.30 by my watch which was gifted
to me by my sister that I heard some movement from outside the house. I
got frightened and peeped from the window to see some people in police
uniform looking around. I thought they too were the killers and rushed
back to my hide out, heap of cow dung on top floor of the house. After
sometime, policemen came upstairs looking for me. I started shivering.
Their officer asked me to come out saying we are policemen and have come
for your protection. I didn’t believe. They came and caught hold of me.
I thought it was the last moment of my life and next I will be shot
dead. However, they brought me down, called for a glass of water which I
refused to take. Then they took me along and searched each house. I
identified the dead bodies except the four of the family from Shopian,
who were the guests of our neighbour Moti Lal. I did not know them. By
then Army also came and came so many officers to see me. The villagers
also returned, started wailing and weeping. An officer asked me about
the bag which I was holding. They wanted to take it away despite my
imploring. Someone got the idea that I was carrying something dear to
me. I then explained to the officer what was inside my bag. “Another
hell broke me in the day when I lit the pyres of my family and witnessed
the mass cremation of those who loved me much. I saw my world destroyed
in flames. I have lost everything except the house where I was born and
which I don’t want to leave. That is the sacred relic for me which I
will always keep returning." Courtesy: Himalayan Mail, 29/1/1998 |
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