Kupwara man shot dead before mother’s eye surgery

Kupwara, Apr 27: A 43-year-old man, who was shot at by unidentified gunmen late Saturday night in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar on Sunday.

An official said that Ghulam Rasool Magray, son of Ghulam Hassan Magray of Kandi Khas, Kupwara, was critically injured after being fired at by unknown gunmen at his residence.

The locals of the area said that they immediately responded to his screams and evacuated him to Associated District Hospital Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara where, after primary treatment by doctors, he was referred to SMHS Hospital for advanced treatment.

ìHe succumbed before reaching SMHS as his injuries were serious,î said one of his neighbours.

Magray is survived by his mother.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, the mother of the deceased, Hajira Begum said, ìAt about 11 pm on Saturday, two gunmen barged into our house and started hurling abuses at my son who was asleep. They woke him up and took him to the courtyard and fired at him.î

She canít still come to terms with the loss of her son and the pain of being left behind with no one to share her grief.

ìMy son was a labourer who had done nothing wrong to anyone. Why then was he killed? He would prepare food for me, wash my clothes, and do every household chore,î Hajira Begum said. ìHe had promised to take me to Srinagar for an eye surgery to restore my vision. I have lost sight in one eye and have only 30 percent vision in the other eye. His words gave me hope, but now heís gone,î the grief-stricken mother said. Magrayís killing has sent shockwaves across the north Kashmir district with people discussing the motive behind his killing.