Bullet slays former Hizb operative’s chances of survival
Anantnag: At a time when the government is pursuing an active policy to appeal local militants to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream promising rehabilitation and ‘better’ life, the struggle and the desperate condition of a former local Hizb militant, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, alias Mushtaq Nagalandi has put a question mark on the government claims.
Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, son of Gull Mohammad Bhat of Kapran area of Tehsil Verinag here in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district had joined the Hizb militant outfit and crossed over to Pakistan administered Kashmir in the year 2000.
After two years, Mushtaq while returning from Pakistan to Kashmir sustained a bullet injury in his leg along the Poonch border. However, Mushtaq managed to flee from the area and reached Srinagar where he was operated, the family said.
“After few weeks, Mushtaq was arrested in Srinagar when he was on his way to a hospital for medical checkup. He remained behind bars for at least three years,” they said.
The family alleged that Mushtaq was not provided the treatment that he required to get fully well.
“After he completed three years of confinement he was set free following which he started his routine life and shunned the path of violence once for all,” said Gull Mohammad, his father.
“Our son went to Jammu and started working as a laborer there,” the family members said.
They however, said that after six months, Mushtaq’s bullet-hit leg developed some weakness and he was not even able to walk, let alone do some work,” they added.
“We admitted him in a hospital but unfortunately Mushtaq’s condition became worse and he is now in a desperate need to get operated so that he can be able to walk again,” said Gull Mohammad.
“Mushtaq despite his miserable condition continues to work hard to feed his family comprising his two kids, wife and parents,” he said, adding that the doctors have advised him to undergo a surgery but due to abject poverty we are unable to get him treated.
Mushtaq while talking to ‘Kashmir Vision’ said that the expenditure for the surgery is expected to be more than Rs 1 lakh, he visited several Hurriyat leaders and MLAs for help but nobody paid any heed towards his sufferings.
“The government as well as the pro-freedom camp has left me on God’s mercy. For me the claims of both the government as well as the separatists have proved hoax as nobody bothered to offer a helping hand,” he said.
KV Correspondent
