SRINAGAR - A last call seeking forgiveness by a Kashmiri freedom fighter to his father, before he is martyred by the security forces, has taken social media by storm.
Aetimaad Hussain Malik was among the five local youth martyred in the encounter at Kachidoora village of South Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday. Three army soldiers were also killed in the encounter.
However, Aetimaad's last six-minute phone call to his father, where he is heard telling his father to forgive him.
"We tried our best. Abrar (code name of another slain ultra, Ishfaq Thokar) has been hit in the head," he told his father.
A highly-educated and affluent individual, Aetimaad had completed his MPhil and ended up joining Hizbul Mujhadeen around four months ago. He was named in two FIRs and booked under Section 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (Criminal Intimidation) Ranbir Penal Code and 16 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
However, in a wretched twist to the saga, Aetimaad's father is heard asking his son not to surrender and instead remain steadfast. "I will not ask you to surrender. God had gifted you to me and I am returning him the same. I will pray to Allah to give you strength to be steadfast," he said.
Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian, said that they do not have the technical confirmation of whether it isAetimaad. "However, the conversion seems to be by and large with respect to the encounter at Kachidoora," he said.