Ganderbal attack: Pall of gloom descends on 2 UT families

Arjun Sharma/ Adil Akhzer

The death of two UT residents in a terrorist attack in Ganderbal came as a huge blow to their family members. All their dreams have come crashing down.

The families of two UT residents, Shashi Abdol of Jammu and Dr Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar, Budgam in Kashmir, who were killed in the attack at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal, are in a shock after hearing the news about the death of their loved ones.

Wife was waiting to break her fast

Jagdish Raj Abrol, father of Shashi Abrol, said his son spoke to the family around 6 pm on Sunday. Ruchi also interacted with her husband and everything seemed fine till that time. “When Ruchi was supposed to break her fast after sighting the moon, she tried calling Shashi several times. However, she did not get any response,” he said.

Dreams shattered, says son

Mohsin, son of Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar, is also in a state of shock. He said the death of his father had left the entire family in utter shock. His father was an honest man and everybody used to respect him. After the death of his father, his dreams, including that of becoming an IAS officer, have been shattered.

Ruchi Abrol, wife of Shashi Abrol, who was fasting for the long life of her husband on the occasion of Karwa Chauth, was seen visibly shocked and in despair at their home in Talab Tillo area of Jammu. She was being comforted by her mother-in-law and other family members.

Shashi’s family members alleged that the government did not inform them about his death. They came to know about the news from the media.

Jagdish Raj Abrol, father of Shashi, said his son spoke to the family members around 6 pm on Sunday. Ruchi also interacted with her husband and everything seemed fine till that time. “When Ruchi was supposed to break her fast after sighting the moon, she tried calling Shashi multiple times. However, she did not get any response,” he said.

He said the family was unaware of the incident till late night when they saw the reports in the media. Shashi was supposed to come to Jammu on Diwali.

Shashi, who was working with a construction company for the past six years, came to Jammu two months ago in connection with his son’s admission to a college.

Shashi’s elder brother Sanjay also vented anger against the government for allegedly not informing them about his death. He said Shashi’s wife should now be given a government job so that she can take care of her two children.

Meanwhile, the attack also devastated a family in Central Kashmir’s Budgam.

A doctor, Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar, a resident of Naidgam village in Budgam district, was among the seven killed in the incident. The entire village is mourning his death.

For Dar’s family, the joy of celebrating the marriage of their daughter for the past several days turned into mourning. Shahnawaz travelled to the site in Ganderbal last week, promising that he would return on Tuesday.

Shahnawaz’s cousin Tariq Ahmed said he was working with the company for the past several years. Killing an innocent was against humanity.

Mohsin, son of Shahnawaz, is also in a state of shock. He said the death of his father had left the entire family in utter shock. His father was an honest man and everybody used to respect him. After the death of his father, his dreams, including that of becoming an IAS officer, have been shattered.

Shahnawaz was laid to rest amid sorrow and heart wrenching scenes on Monday.