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TRAL: One was the poster boy of India-held Kashmir's (IHK) uprising, the other a seemingly random victim of a surge of violence that shows little sign of ending.
But as Muslims in India began celebrating Eid on Tuesday, the families of Burhan Wani and Riyaz Ahmed Shah started their day with a trip to a cemetery, united in grief but with vastly different reflections on their losses.
"When Burhan left us, he left for the cause and became the son of the whole of Kashmir, so I constantly thank God it was my son who was sacrificed," said Muzaffar Wani as he spoke calmly of his son's death in a gun battle with soldiers.
Read more: They say Kashmir is ours but they don’t consider Kashmiris as their own, claims Burhan Wani’s father
Gulping back tears, Shah's sister Amina tells a very different story; overwhelmed by the thought that her 22-year-old brother's life had been cut short after being shot for no apparent reason on his way home from a shift as a security guard.
"Riyaz never took part in the protests, he never even picked up a stone. He was very responsible, all he ever wanted to do was put food on the table," said Amina at the family's home in the state capital Srinagar.
"We have still not come to terms with what happened, our hearts are restless," added her older sister Shahina, describing her family's Eid that included a trip to Riyaz's grave in a section of the local cemetery reserved for 'martyrs'.
The usual Eid feast of mutton and chicken would be replaced by lentils and rice.
"We will be praying for all those who have been injured or martyred... the entire Kashmir nation is in mourning."
Around 80 Kashmiris have died in the two months since Wani was killed on the southern edge of the region, making it one of the worst bouts of violence since a full-blown armed rebellion was at its peak in the 1990s.
All efforts to thwart the unrest have failed, and anger towards their rulers shows every sign of escalating in IHK.
Fearful that large scale congregations could morph into mass protests against Indian rule, authorities have banned prayers at Srinagar's main mosque.
Helicopters and drones buzz over the city, while internet and mobile networks have been suspended.
With virtually all shops shuttered for weeks, wrecking what should be one of the busiest times of the year for retailers, few families will be exchanging gifts or enjoying lavish feasts.
While the shutdown was initially imposed by the Indian authorities, retailers closed in response to calls by separatist groups.
Read more: In Kashmir, the young are paying for India’s lack of vision
In Wani's home town of Tral, normal life has come to a standstill with schools shut and public transport suspended since his killing on July 8.
One of the few hives of activity is the family home where Muzaffar Wani still receives a steady stream of visitors paying their respects to a rebel leader who has arguably become more potent since his passing.
He was the second son to have died at the hands of Indian forces, with his older brother Khaled allegedly tortured to death in April last year after being intercepted on his way back from a clandestine meeting with his brother.
Muzaffar Wani told AFP there would be Eid celebrations but he was heartened that his sons have managed to galvanise the separatists' cause.
"I'm proud of their sacrifices... of course I'm sad as well and try not to talk about it too much in case it weakens my resolve," said Wani, who also began his day by visiting his sons' graves.
Burhan and Khaled account for two of the 45 plots in Tral's graveyard, all of whom have died in the separatists' cause since independence.
Speaking in front of a poster proclaiming "Burhan, your blood will bring about a revolution", Muzaffar Wani recounted how his then 15-year-old son left home to join the Hizbul Mujahideen, angered by a beating that soldiers dished out to his brother.
Over the next eight years, he would occasionally sneak home at night before rejoining his fellow militants in a group that supports Kashmir becoming part of Pakistan.
Explore: Burhan Wani has become what India long feared
In Tral, Pakistani flags fly from rooftops while graffiti denouncing "Indian dogs" or glorifying "our hero Burhan" are ubiquitous.
Some members of the security forces admit that authorities underestimated the impact of killing Wani, a dashing 23-year-old who built up a big following on social media as he posed with an AK-47.
While Wani's killing has fanned the separatist cause, a senior police official acknowledged that Shah's shooting had exacerbated the divide between the security forces and an alienated civilian population. He died when pellet gunshot fired at close range tore through vital organs.
There was no record of stone-throwing and he was on a scooter, said the officer, speaking anonymously. "There can be no justification."
Comments (67) Closed
Meanwhile the 172 million Muslims of the rest of India prepare to celebrate Eid with traditional fervor and festivities. Is it the geographic distance from the self-styled "citadel of Islam" that enables them to live in peace, prosperity and harmony in an open multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious secular democracy? The answer is obvious to all.
Oppressors' rule will surely end soon
Government giving them School & University for Education. Government giving them Bank ,police and government jobs.
Now you are destroying your own resources even you know India will never remove forces from Kashmir.Show your aggression through education.
these show protests will die natural death
With so much stone pelting practically in every picture in this article I am not surprised at the number of those killed.
Security needs to crack down harder on these law breakers.
Well sais Shubs.
98% Indians does not support what Kashmiri doing in Kashmir. They are with Indian security forces. They will never get support from other Indian Muslims.
@Shubs Muslims living conditions are worst than Dalits in India, according to SACHAR committee report. Only country in the world where caste based divide between humans exist.
@Vikram Singh British were giving India the same things as well. Why did India strive for the freedom!
@Vikram Singh so don't....more fighting..no biggie to them!
@Vikram Singh India has lost the spiritual and emotional connection with Kashmir. It is only the guns which keeps Kashmir in Inda and guns will never win. It happened with us in 1971 when Pakistan lost the connection with us in Bangladesh.
indians are living in clear denial.and it makes me more sad that educated youth of india is justifying these killings.pakistan fully support the freedom movement of kashmir and is commited to resolvekashmir issue through peaceful way under UN resolutions.now indians please don't tell me i haven't read UN resolution.I and ministry of foriegn affairs of pakistan has read UN resolution and pakistan supports it with official approved reforms.just type Mcnaughtun proposals on kashmir in google and read UN resolution 80 on kashmir.so please stop saying that "pakistanis haven't read the UN resolution or pakistan reject UN resolution." UN and the whole world supports pakistan stance on kashmir "let kashmiris decide"
@Shubs its not relegious issue.indians must undertstand that india is occupying force in kashmir.
@N.Sid caste is between hindu. Plz dont bring hindu muslim in it.
@Shubs - Nice try to hide atrocities of the India government. The rest of the 172 million Muslims are not yet struggling for their right of self determination.
@A British Pakistani Exactly so Sir. But the Indians have one rule for Kashmiries and another rule for themselves. Freedom is more important than education. A free mind is at peace with itself.
@N.Sid This is the only country which reach Mars in its first attemt
Pakistan is commited to solve the issue under UN resolutions, Before indians start saying that i haven't read UN resolution, please indians do read the UN resolution 80 on kashmir .Pakistan supports UN resolution with reforms while india do not accept UN resolution in any form.
@A British Pakistani Out sider are not allowed for forcefully occupation or ajadi in India from India. They can settle any where in the world.
@Ashish - "N.Sid This is the only country which reach Mars in its first attemt" So, that should give that country the right to kill innocent civilians just because they want to determine their own future?
@Ashish - "@N.Sid This is the only country which reach Mars in its first attemt" India did an awesome job in reaching to Mars in first attempt.
Let there be peace.
Kashmiris have to understand borders cannot be re-drawn. Meaningful autonomy is the way to go.
@Ashish Mars mission by US was a 50 year old mission to the unexplored Mars. Why reinvent the wheel which was done before just to be in the league of nations. BTW what happened to that Mars mission.
I am very surprised and disappointed at lack of sympathy for and lack of desire to know why are Kashmiris are doing this among Indian intelligentsia. For argument sake one can say they may be wrong but a logical person would like to know why.
I will agree to what Muslims want in Kashmir if majoriy of Muslims want..
@yaqut khan If whole world supports UN Resolution and supporting Pakistan then why world not telling India. Sorry world knows how to read UN resolution
denial will only take you so far. It won't make it a part of your country. The writing is there for everybody to see.
Here comes the difference between a real democracy and a Indian fake democracy. Under Indian fake democracy, people of J&K are deprived of their basic right of freedom and even Indian do not understand the difference between referendum and elections as elections in J&K can never be substitute to the plebiscite.
@Shubs Well Said Sir!! Please look at the faces of security personal who are showing utmost patient while getting hit by rock!! Please pray for them as well..They have family & kids to cry for if something happens to them!! Please show the other side of coin..
Point to be noted that bombs are not exploding in Indian mosques. Eid was celebrated normally without suicide bomber.
@yaqut khan Thats not true. If a million muslims in UK ask for freedom doesnt mean that UK is an occupying force. This land belongs to us. This people are arabs,turks ,persians etc who intruded in here and are staying there.
@joe Whole India should accept...not thousands or lakh persons...India is country of billion people.
Look at the pictures! If youth throw stones on security, they, for sure, won't get back flowers in return...
@Gulrez Khan Wel said... That's the point!
Painting on the wall saying it all. They want freedom from Indian occupation.
Many ppl earlier were calling these are peaceful protests...and here all the pics show violent protests...wt should security do..? get killed by them without retaliating..?..get sense folks..
@Shubs , Is it a coincidence that the only Muslim majority state in India is in a state of constant oppression?
@Ashok Raina ....you seems a kashmiri pandit ... and you're most welcome !!! I think you are saying figure must be 80,000 instead of just 80. Time is near when you all repent.
Include these Kashmiri bowlers into the IPL; atleast their talents will not go waste.
@Mohajir now it talking some sense
@Sohail Khan Gem - 10-20 kids can paint few words on all walls of the city.
@Vikram Singh How did Britain leave India?
@Vikram Singh We don't want school or college or money We want only and only FREEDOM
Every man every, woman, and every child of Pakistan is with our Kashmiri Brothers and Sisters, and we pray for you every day for your Freedom. Just stay safe and may The Force be with you.
@Vikram Singh, what would you say in the same breath, about Indian Political Leadership, are not they showing their aggression through education, or are they all uneducated?
@N.Sid I invite you to visit India and you will say otherwise. The only Muslims who live in bad conditions in India are those who live in ghettos and send their kids to Madarassas for religious education. India is a free country and these people have a choice if they want to move forward in life.
@N.Sid you are correct, and u knw why madarsha eduction will not get job in MNC & they will not able to improve themself life style
Those who think that they will snatch away Kashmir form India which is an integral part of our great nation since time immemorial must know that its never going to happen anytime.
Loss of human lives, whether Hindu or Muslim is deplorable and Sad. All borders are artificial. Look at World History for the last several hundred years, Empires have vanished and new countries are born. Let there be peace and give the people of both Jammu and Kashmir what they really want. I dont know what the majority wants but if freedom is what they want, they cant be bought over by universities and good education and better jobs.
Jai Hind and Pakistan Zindabad.
The valley is closed since last several months. I wonder, who is funding them for food and other stuff? But obvious...
I am Sikh and respect all religions as my own .I have good number of friends in all communities this includes my friends who are Muslim.I do participate in their festivals. There is no country other than India on the planet earth , where religion can be be practiced/followed without fear . My humble submission to my kashmiri brothers ,please Stop violence and give better education to your kids for their better future.Respect your religion and respect this great nation India.
Throw stone on security personnel - get bullet in return (world does not pay attention)
Come with peaceful march on street - get attention of the world.
@dave brilliant sir.
@Shubs Banning beef is no democracy...
@Ashok Raina Blood is thicker than water...
@satish Because Kashmir is not part of india, only occupied by 700000 illegal troops...
The best solution for kashmir will only comes with negotiation..., at present respect of LOC by both the countries..., but it requires very strong will power & mass support of public from both countries.... It depends on leadership of both countries & more on people of both countries to respect LOC, demilitries kashmir, remove terrorist, engage people to people contact, increase trade, development initiatives on each side by respective govt....
In todays world only negotiation will work....
@wellwisher Freedom with sacrifices not shows...
Everyone want freedom... Even a clild want freedom from parents.... But dats not possible..., in india, pakistan, srilanka, bangladesh, afganistan etc there are lots of people /communities who want freedom but is it possible for any nation to give freedom??
@Vikram Singh British occupants of india also gave school, trains, universities, infrastructure to indians then what was the need to get independence from them
Thanks for DAWN for showing the pics of innocent protesters...!! Hope that DAWN will share the pics of the the rest of India celebrating the holy Eid al-Adha.
The pragmatic solution to the so called Kashmir problem is conversion of LOC into IB. Kasmiris belonging to both sides of the border should be given freedom to choose the country to settle permanently. The original inhabitants of Kashmir is Pandits, they are in favour of remaining in India. Their wishes cannot be ignored. When Bengal and Punjab could be divided on the basis of two nations theory, Kashmir can also be divided . At least unlike Sindhi Hindus, Kashmiri muslim will have some part of Kashmir to settle permanently.
India as Democratic country (including 200 Million Muslim population) , everyone have equal Opportunity and Freedom to pursue Career and Dreams irrespective of what religion we follow.But my 3% Kashmiri brothers chose very poor and self destructive option.See the pictures...............
Pictures shows only 0.1% are protesting. others are happy for India.
A very sad story of a young man who was fighting for a genuine cause. We all pray for his family to bear the loss.
@dave You need to read the 1947 partition formula under which the majority areas of Muslims shall make Pakistan and the areas with Hindu majority shall make india. Now Kashmir has predominantly Muslim majority, thus a natural and legal part of Pakistan...