Muzamil Maqbool
Srinagar, Feb 15 (Only Kashmir): Setting an example of communal harmony, the Muslims in Kashmir perform last rites of an elderly Kashmiri Pandit on Monday.
The residents of Maisuma, Srinagar rushed to help the bereaved family to perform the last rites of Rakesh Kumar Sharma aka Lala Ji, who passed away on Sunday evening.
“We (Muslims) carried the body of the Lala Ji to the cremation ground, who did not migrate when a large number of Kashmiri Pandits fled the Valley in 1990,” said Ajaz Ahmad War, a journalist by profession.
“Local Muslims organised and performed the last rites of deceased; we deeply mourn his death as one of our own. He was cremated at Batamaloo,” said Ajaz, adding, Islam teaches us brotherhood and harmony. It was our duty to reach out to our Pandit neighbours in their hour of grief.
Scores of people including the women thronged the home of the deceased to express condolences with the family.
Meanwhile, few Kashmiri Pandits who arrived to help his family and local Muslims in cremation of the deceased expressed gratitude to the local Muslims.
“It is only because of our Muslim brothers that we could fulfill the cremation without any hardship,” they said. “The communal harmony and brotherhood between Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits has always remained an example. Today, the Muslims showed that they love and honour Kashmiri Pandits.”
Photos: Ahsaan Ali/Only Kashmir
