Grief fills Budgam over Dr Shahnawaz’s tragic loss

Budgam, Oct 21: Dr Shahnawaz Dar’s tragic death in the Gagangeer attack has left almost all Budgam in deep mourning, with emotions running high as neighbours, family, and friends gathered in large numbers at his home in Nayidgam to pay their last respects.

The air was thick with grief as his loved ones shared their heartfelt memories and disbelief over the loss.

Mourners spoke of his generosity and how he had touched their lives.

“Whenever anyone in this village was in need, he was the first to step forward,” the mourner said. “He always told us, ‘Don’t worry, I am here.’ Now, who will say that to us?”

The anguish of the crowd was palpable as Dr Shahnawaz’s body was carried to his ancestral graveyard. “We are all in shock. This should not have happened. A man who healed others was taken from us in such a brutal way. What has the world come to?” a group of mourners said.

As thousands gathered to say their final goodbyes, one thing was clear – Dr Shahnawaz was not just a doctor, but a beacon of compassion and humanity. His death has left an irreplaceable void.

The house, mohalla, and village, which had around two weeks ago celebrated the wedding of Dr Shahnawaz’s daughter, were now filled with cries of grief as mourners thronged his ancestral home to bid farewell.

Dr Shahnawaz, along with six labourers, was shot dead at a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway late Sunday.

The attack, which officials believe was carried out by at least two militants, also left five others injured, all of whom are now undergoing treatment. The doctor leaves behind his wife, two sons, and a daughter. A well-respected figure in his community, Dr Shahnawaz had been posted at the tunnel construction site by APCO Infratech, an infrastructure company he worked for.

Neighbours and colleagues remembered him as a kind-hearted individual who was always ready to help those in need. Mourners, many arriving from Nayidgam in Soibugh and nearby villages, gathered in large numbers, with emotions running high.

“This has come like a bolt of lightning from the sky,” his close neighbour said. “The family was still celebrating his daughter's wedding, and now they are mourning his death.”

Dr Shahnawaz had become the backbone of his family after the early death of his parents, as his sister tearfully recounted.

“He was both our father and mother. Today, we have truly been orphaned,” she said, her voice trembling with grief.

As the ambulance carrying Dr Shahnawaz’s body arrived in the village, the number of mourners swelled.

After participating in prayers, they accompanied the procession to the ancestral graveyard, where he was laid to rest amid slogans and heartfelt tributes.

“In Islam, we believe that killing an innocent person is like killing all of humanity,” said Muneeb Ahmad, a shopkeeper and a neighbour of Dr Shahnawaz. “Dr Sahab was an innocent soul, always helping others.”

His son, Mohsin said that his father was an honest and respectable man in this area.

“He wanted me to become a doctor, but my dream was to become an IAS officer. My grandfather, who was a Police Inspector, also believed in me, and my father had resolved to do everything he could to help me achieve my dream. My dreams are shattered now,” Mohsin said. “I have to take care of my family and myself. I urge the administration to help me fulfil my father’s dream.”

The tragic killing has left the entire village in shock, with locals calling for swift justice and action to prevent such attacks in the future.

As the mourners dispersed, the sense of loss and grief remained palpable, casting a long shadow over Nayidgam.