Razaq’s family faces target killing for second time

Rajouri, Apr 23:  The family of government employee Muhammad Razaq, who was killed by terrorists on Monday evening, suffered fatality in target killing by the terrorists for the second time.

Head of the family Muhammad Akbar was also killed by terrorists, twenty years ago. On Monday evening, his son Muhammad Razaq was killed by terrorists, spreading a wave of shock, fear and gloom not just in the village but the entire Thanamandi sub division.

“My elder brother Muhammad Akbar was Naib Sarpanch of the village in 2004 when he was abducted by terrorists and killed brutally,” recalled Akbar's brother, Muhammad Hussain (72), son of Slah Muhammad.

He said, “Body of my brother was found days after his abduction and it was mutilated.  Now my nephew, son of my late brother, has become a victim of terrorism.”

“Our family has suffered a twin blow and with this second blow, we are shattered,” he said.

“Razaq, who was shot to death by terrorists, has left behind his two sons and three daughters. He was a noble soul; religious by nature. He used to observe Ramadhan fasting besides offering five-time Namaz,” he added.

Village elder Muhammad Iqbal, who is also a religious preacher, said that the incident reminded him of the fateful day of March 13, 2004 when Razaq's father Muhammad Akbar was also killed brutally.

“Akbar was abducted and then his body was buried in wheat fields. Wheat plants also grew over it before it was recovered,” he recalled those horrifying moments.

Villagers, while discussing the situation during Nimaz-e-Janaza, called for restoring the army post Kopra in the area which was functional there till 2010 but was later removed.