Iqbal, a computer and mobile accessories dealer, had left his studies mid-way to financially support his family. He was eldest of three siblings—Shahnawaz (a B.Sc first year student), Faisal Farooq (a 12th class student) and his sister Rabia Farooq who is doing a ‘Hafiza’ course.
Iqbal Farooq Pir (22), who was shot dead by Army in Handwara town on Tuesday, was the lone bread-earner for his family.
Iqbal, a computer and mobile accessories dealer, had left his studies mid-way to financially support his family. He was eldest of three siblings—Shahnawaz (a B.Sc first year student), Faisal Farooq (a 12th class student) and his sister Rabia Farooq who is doing a ‘Hafiza’ course.
Iqbal’s parents, according to his neighbours, are on continuous medication for the past five years for diabetes and heart ailments. According to them, he had left his studies and was running a computer and mobile accessories shop at Main Chowk in Handwara and helping his siblings in their studies and while shouldering the responsibility of ensuring bread and butter to the family.
“Iqbal was the only earning hand in his family. He constructed a small house on his own and would also bear the expenditure on medicines of his parents and studies of his siblings,” his neighbours told Greater Kashmir.
Witnesses said after tension gripped Handwara yesterday over alleged molestation bid on a girl by an army soldier, Iqbal was closing his shop that is located opposite to an army bunker at HandwaraChowk. “The army personnel opened fire from a ‘Casper’ vehicle directly at Iqbal,” they said. “He received one bullet in his head and another on his back. He died on the spot.”
On Wednesday, Iqbal was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at ShalporaDrugmulla. Thousands of people participated in his funeral prayers, amid tears and sobs.
At Iqbal’s residence, everyone was in tears. Hundreds of people visited the bereaved family to express their condolences. His parents and siblings, however, couldn’t be consoled by anyone and kept wailing aloud.
When Iqbal’s body was brought to Shalpora this morning, hundreds of men, women and children took to streets and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. They carried Iqbal’s body in a procession to nearby graveyard.
