By: Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara: Failing to hold tears while recalling the memories of their minor son, a family of a 5-year-old boy from North Kashmir’s Kupwara district Monday said that they have lost the support system of their visually impaired father due to the negligence of Sarpanch at Kunan village.
Ayan Altaf Bhat son of Altaf Ahmad Bhat resident of Kunan died on Saturday after he fell into a trench just a few meters away from his home which was uncovered and left incomplete for a long time now.
With the untimely death of the minor a pall of gloom descended over the entire locality with locals demanding action against those involved.
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) locals while expressing their serious resentment against the concerned Sarpanch said that he has rejected repeated pleas from the locals to cover the trench that was left incomplete for long now.
“Last year also it almost took the life of a minor but Sarpanch remained unmoved, not bothered about the safety of children,” locals said.
Locals said that the family of the deceased has no source of income other than the visually impaired father who along with his family members lives in a Kacha house.
“The trench has been uncovered since 2019 and even after the death of Ayan, Sarpanch didn’t visit the family to pay condolence despite being the village head,” locals said.
The father of the deceased said that he was the lone support system for him ever since his birth.
“I approached the concerned Sarpanch requesting him to cover the trench fearing that any of my children would drown in it while en route to school but all the pleas fell on deaf ears,” he said.
Bhat said that Ayan would accompany him to Masjid (Mosque) five times a day to offer prayers and on occasions he would guide him to cross the bumpy roads.
“I have lost my support system. I have no other support. I am 90 percent blind. He was like my eyes,” Bhat said.
Meanwhile, a police official told KNO that a case has been registered at the local station and further investigation has been initiated in this regard.
He informed that a case FIR number 92 under section 304A (Causing death by negligence) stands registered.
The official said that details related to the trench will be sought from the departments concerned for further course of action while no arrest has been made in this regard.
The villagers demand stern action against the concerned sarpanch and all others involved which led to the death of the minor boy.
