From selling books and pens, Bangroo died with a gun in his hand
Srinagar: Mehraj-udin Bangroo, one of the most wanted Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) commanders who brought Srinagar city back on the militancy map had a heartfelt devotion towards studies.
Bangroo, started his career selling books and pens for children and when he was arrested a decade back for being sympathetic towards militants he did not waste his time in jail but continued studies and even passed his graduation while serving a jail sentence.
Bangroo along with his associate, Fahad Mushtaq Waza, hailing from Srinagar’ Khanyar area was killed in the gunfight while as a civilian Rayees Ahmad who was the son of the house owner where the militants were holed up was also killed during the encounter.
Mehraj-udin was different from others, said his brother. “The day he left home to join militant ranks he has not even once got in touch with the family,” he added.
Prior to leaving his home to join the militants, Bangroo, who was also known as Piya among his friends and neighbours, had urged his family not to mourn or wail over his death.
“Like every other day, I urge you to have lunch and not to wail over my death,” Bangroo who was the fourth among five siblings of Sana-ullah Bangroo had said, according to his family.
Bangroo’s elder brother while talking to mourners who were visiting his home on Wednesday morning when the body of slain LeT commander was lying at PCR said that “since I remember the last wish of my brother, I called all my family members including my mother to have tea. We were not even able to have a single sip of water but despite that I wanted to respect the last wish of my beloved brother so we all tried hard to keep his words.”
His brother further said that Piya never talked to his family since he joined the militant ranks back in 2016.
“My brother was different from all. He left home and didn’t look back or called his family once since he joined militancy,” he said.
Piya according to the family was a student when he was arrested more than a decade back but he passed several examinations while being in jail.
Bangroo, who was the longest surviving militant from Srinagar, was being pursued by security agencies closely.
“Four days before his killing, his younger brother and three others from Fateh Kadal area were arrested by the police and were lodged at Air Cargo,” family sources said, adding that it seemed that they were chasing Bangroo from last four days and put his brother among four persons under police custody.
All the four persons were later released once the Fateh Kadal encounter was over, they said, adding that the four arrestees were taken to Police Control Room here where the dead bodies of slain militants were lying.
KV Correspondent
