In Sopore's Brath Kalan, a vote and an appeal; fathers ask militant sons to shun gun

Srinagar, Oct 1: The Sopore town in north Kashmir on Tuesday was vibrant with people lining up to exercise their franchise in the last phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections.

Amid the buzz, two men with moist eyes caught everyone's attention at polling station in Brath Kalan area.

After they registered their vote,  they made an appeal to their sons who they said have joined militant ranks, to return home.

For Ghulam Hassan Mir, whose son Omar has joined militancy few years ago, voting is an opportunity to get what people can’t achieve through guns and grenades.

“I urge my son Omar to return home and live a peaceful life with us. Picking up arms won't yield anything for us. For the past 30 years, guns have taken lives and shattered the dreams of many fathers and mothers,” Mir said as tears roll down on his cheeks.

“I know he will read my words in newspapers or listen to social media. I know his heart would melt. I know he will cry also. But I don’t know whether that would make him to return to his parents again,” said sobbing Mir.

“If peace becomes a permanent feature here, nobody’s son would pick up arms,” Mir said, adding that there may have been reasons for his son to join militancy but things seem to get in place now, he said as per news agency NVI.

“I request my son to take over the family business of apples and live a peaceful life,” Mir said.

Mir was accompanied by another man, Muhammad Hamzah. Hamzah's son, Bilal too has joined the militant ranks.

“If my vote brings my son back, I will never miss this opportunity. I will vote again and again. I urge my son Bilal to return to his home. His parents are waiting desperately for his return. We don’t want to shoulder his coffin. We want to see him getting married,” said Hamzah.

He said, “no father would die peacefully after shouldering the coffin of his young son. So I make a hand folded appeal to my son Bilal to listen to my words and return home."