Farooq, Omar, Bukhari, others condemn killing
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Oct 6: The sound of Vedic chants and ‘azaan’ from a nearby mosque fused in melodic harmony for a brief moment at the Bindroo’s residence where hundreds of mourners from every walk of life gathered on Wednesday to pay their respects to “humanist-businessman” Makhan Lal Bindroo who was gunned down by terrorists yesterday.
As the family prepared for the ritualistic last bath – Bindroo was killed at his pharmacy Bindroo Medicare on Tuesday evening — and the diverse chants were heard, his wife Kiran cried out in anguish. “Today, he is being sent off from this earth by Hindus as well as Muslims. He lived for humanity. He served you people… Why was he killed? What is his fault?”
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The chords of unity were a fitting last post for the businessman, a familiar face for those in Srinagar, many of the mourners said. There were few dry eyes in the large congregation from across the Valley gathered at the Bindroo home in Indra Nagar to bid a final goodbye to the prominent Kashmiri Pandit, one of those who stayed back in the Valley through the years of turmoil and tension.
The large crowd at her home agreed. The 68-year-old Makhan Lal, many said, stood for every person rich or poor during the last 31 years of the insurgency and provided medicines free of cost to the needy. His chain of shops was a trusted name for genuine medicines.
He had even brought his son back from a high paying job at the Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon to serve the people of Kashmir, a retired police officer recalled as he joined the queue of mourners to condole and condemn the death.
Minutes after Bindroo was shot at point blank range, by terrorists of The Resistance Front (TRF) at his pharmacy near Iqbal Park, militants gunned down a ‘chaat’ vendor, Virendra Paswan from Bihar elsewhere in the city. Almost simultaneously, another civilian, Mohammad Shafi Lone, was killed at Naidkhai in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Bindroo’s wife Kiran said, “In our prayer room we have all religions together. My husband believed in one religion and that is humanity and nothing else.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP Farooq Abdullah pleaded with her son Siddharth Bindroo to not leave Kashmir.
Abdullah, who was in tears as he hugged Siddharth, said, “Your father was a brave man. He stood against all odds and I am requesting you not to leave Kashmir like your father. God will Inshallah punish the culprits. It is unfortunate that the beast consumed him too.”
At one point, Abdullah lost his cool when pressed to give a political statement. “Is this the moment to ask stupid question? We have lost a wonderful human being and you have no value in emotions,” he said angrily as he waded through the crowds.
Siddharth, who could also barely hold back his tears, echoed him. “Please have some mercy. I have lost my father and am yet to come with terms with it. Please do not force me to make any statement”.
His father, he said, was a principled man who earned a name by selling genuine medicine.
“Respected by all in Kashmir for being helpful and friendly, he even motivated me to return and serve people here. I don’t know whether he had any threat. All I remember is that he was brave enough to keep his shop open since the 1990s,” the grieving son said.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) Altaf Bukhari also visited the Bindroo home to pay his condolences to the family.
From the house, the body was taken to the Karan Nagar crematorium where it was consigned to flames. The pyre was lit by Siddharth and Shraddha.
This is possibly the first time after the killing of noted human right activist H N Wanchoo in 1992, that people from across the Valley gathered to mourn a death.
Farooq Abdullah also condemned the killing of Mohammed Shafi Lone of Naidkhai, Bandipora and a non local Virender Paswan.
While condemning the brutal killings, Omar Abdullah said no words are strong enough to condemn the dastardly acts of violence. “Such deplorable acts only leave behind a trail of pain and suffering. No amount of condemnation is enough to censure such acts of violence. Even the words of condemnation after such attacks sound hollow. This is the handiwork of enemies of peace and humanity”. “May all those who have fallen prey to the wanton act of barbarism, find eternal peace. I also pray for fortitude to bereaved families to bear the inconsolable loss”, he said.
Among others party general secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar, additional general secretary, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, provincial president, Nasir Aslam Wani, party MPs Mohammed Akbar Lone , Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi, spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar also condemned the killings.
Former Minister and chairman Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, Sajjad Gani Lone has also strongly condemned killing of Bindroo, owner of Bindroo Medicate. He said the fatal attack on him is outrageous and unacceptable. Spokesman of the party Adnan Ashraf Mir has also condemned the reprehensible and disgraceful attack on ML Bindroo and non local street vendor in Lal Bazar and has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.
Prof Saifudin Soz, former Union Minister has also condemned the killing of three innocent civilians in Kashmir yesterday including M L Bindroo whose killing has saddened many of his admirers. He said Bindroo’s killing is a great loss to Kashmir’s composite culture.
Apni party president and former Minister, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari along with State Youth president and Mayor Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Junaid Azim Mattu have strongly condemned the killing of Bindroo and three civilians in Kashmir Valley.
The leaders visited the bereaved family to express their condolences. Bukhari termed the killing as an act of inhumane belligerence which has shaken the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.
His party colleague and general secretary, Vijay Bakaya has also condemned the killings strongly and expressed his deepest sympathies with bereaved families at this hour of grief.
BJP senior leader and former Deputy CM, Kavinder Gupta and former Minister, Bali Bhagat have also expressed his profound grief and shock over the killing of three civilians including a leading businessman M L Bindroo by militants in Valley. Kavinder said the terrorists involved in yesterday’s killings will be taught a lesson. Bali Bhagat said by such actions militants will achieve nothing. “Killing innocent people by trigger happy militants is nothing but a cowardice act”, he added.
Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) president, K K Khosa has also strongly condemned the killing of Bindroo a leading businessman of Srinagar, a non Kashmiri and local resident in Bandipora district yesterday. Sabha, which convened an emergency meeting termed the killing of Bindroo and others a gruesome act. The members said Sabha is shocked with the killing of Bindroo who belongs to minority KP community and continued to serve the majority community in Kashmir during the 32 years when terrorism was on peak.
Khosa said the attack was aimed at scaring the members of minority community and also vitiate the environment again. The killing annuls the tall claims of the Government and its leadership projecting that they were in total control of the situation. The Government has failed in controlling the Jehadi forces and hard core terrorists who have been striking at will choosing their targets. The Sabha put on record the anguish shown by its members about the failure of both Central and UT Government on serious lapse in providing security to the minority community.
CPIM senior leader and former MLA, Mohamed Yousf Tarigami has also condemned the brutal killing of M L Bindroo. He said late Bindroo stayed in Kashmir in trying and difficult times and continued his services to the locals despite odds. He said his unfortunate killing has sent shock waves.
BJP spokesperson and former MLC, Girdhari Lal Raina while condemning the killing of Bindroo a non Kashmiri and a civilian in Kashmir yesterday said Bindroo’s killing is not just another murder of one more member of minority Hindu community in Kashmir , it is brutal assassination and murder of trust , love , affection, faith and hope. Terming it a cowardice act Raina accused Kashmir society including power hungry politicians for this inhuman killing.. “Coward terrorists fired shots provided by their masters , but the so called mainstream power hungry politicians who issued inflammatory statements about imaginary “division of Muslim votes” are equally responsible for breeding revulsion against religious minorities , added Raina.
Expressing serious concern over the killing of Bindroo, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAKS) held a massive protest demonstration in front of Press Club here today. Led by YAIKS president, R K Bhat the protestors with banners and pla cards in their hands expressed their serious concern over the series killings of members of community in the Valley. The protestors said that terrorists’ killing of Bindroo, Sarpanch Ajay Bharti, Rakesh Pandita, Bantu Sharma and many more from minority community and threat to minorities will never deter KPs from returning to their motherland which the community has nurtured with its blood for 5000 years. YAIKS has demanded a high level probe into the killings and action against the terrorists responsible against the dastardly act.
R K Bhat accused Pakistan and its sponsored terrorists for the dastardly act and said it is shocking and painful not only for KPs but peace loving people across the country.
All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) has also strongly condemned the brutal killings in Kashmir. In a statement from New Delhi it said the gruesome killing of a very prominent KP, M L Bindroo, Virender Paswan and Shafi Lone is the matter of concern to the community living in Kashmir and outside. The AIKS, which convened the meeting censured the Indian State for its failure in protecting the lives of citizens in Kashmir. The organisational heads and representatives of JKVM, KMMA, Noida GKDP and RRR attended the meeting.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) president Kundan Kashmiri and its senior leaders, Tej Pandita, Dr Saraf and others have also strongly condemned the killing of leading KP businessman in Valley and accused the Government of its total failure in providing security to the nationalist people in Kashmir. Kashmiri said that such acts are continuing for last 32 years and KPs are targeted whenever the terrorists get the chance. He said such attacks have created a sense of insecurity among the KPs living in Valley including PM package employees. The fear psychosis continue to haunt the KPs both living in exile as well as in Valley.
The activists of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena led by Ashok Gupta, president of DF and SS took out a procession against the killing of three civilians. They also torched the Pakistani flags while strongly condemning the brutal ct. Gupta said the killing of KPs in Valley is a plot against them by those who have encroached their lands and other property as they don’t want KPs to come back, he added.
BJP displaced district president Chand Ji Bhat and other leaders B B Gosani, Shuban Ji and Nanna Ji Raina have also strongly condemned the killings in Valley.
Legal Cell, Ikkjutt Jammu incharge Amzi Arthur John along with Ajay Sharma, Parmeet Kumar , Vishal Singh Salaria, Sahil Sharma and Vipul Sharma have strongly condemned killing of M L Bindroo and two others in Kashmir Valley yesterday, According to Adv John the attack on Hindus in Kashmir is the symbol of genocidal process and it must be stopped at any cost.
The Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed its grief over the killing of Kashmiri Pandit businessman, M L Bindroo and two others by militants. Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz expressed shock and condemned the killing of Bindroo a leading pharmacist of the Valley who had been dedicatedly serving people of Kashmir for last many decades and two others yesterday evening.
Sharika Peeth Sansthan Subash Nagar president M K Jalali has also strongly condemned the killing of Bindroo and two others in Valley yesterday and urged the Government to tighten the security grid further to ensure safety of people .
Kashmiri Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha chairman, Ramesh Mahajan and general secretary, Brahman Maha Mandal, Ravinder Razdan in an virtual meeting under the chairmanship of Upender Handoo condemned the dastardly act of terrorists, It expressed grave concern over worsening situation in Kashmir.
Trikuta Kashmiri Samiti, Janata Dal United J&K general secretary, Sanjay Dhar and its secretary Vivek Bali have also strongly condemned the killing of Bindroo a leading businessman, a non Kashmiri Hindu and a local.
Kashmiri Hindu Conference chief, M L Thusoo, its convener, P L Koul Budgami and Magam Bangil Sabha, president, Raj Nath Raina and BJP leader Hilal Jan have also strongly condemned the killing.
Shuja Zafffar chairman, Jammu Muslim Front has also strongly condemned the brutal murder of Bindroo, a well known businessman of Kashmir.
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