Woman injured in TRC grenade attack dies

Srinagar, Nov 12: The woman from North Kashmir who had sustained injuries along with 11 other civilians in a Srinagar grenade blast on 3 November succumbed to her injuries in Srinagar hospital on Tuesday.
Middle-aged Aabida Kounsar known as Sumiya Jan in the family circle died at SMHS Hospital Srinagar, confirmed the hospital sources.
The victim was the inhabitant of Manzam Mohalla Naidkhai area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
At least 12 civilians including the victim lady had suffered injuries in a grenade blast in Sunday Market Srinagar.
Police have already arrested trio from Ikhraj Pora Srinagar in this connection.
As soon as the ambulance carrying the body of Abida Kounsar, reached Naidkhai, Sumbal in northern district of Bandipora, the air filled with shrieks and cries. “Don’t cry, she is a martyr. The splinter of Grenade hit her forehead and pierced through her brain. Today she died a martyr’s death,” yelled Abida’s brother Waseem Raja.
A pall of gloom descended on the entire Naidkhai area as soon as the body of Abida was taken out of the ambulance. While mourning the death of this mother of three siblings, villagers expressed their sorrow and fear, saying, “There is no safety for Kashmiris. Our neighbour Abida only went to Srinagar for shopping, but death snatched her from us,” they said.
“How long will these bullets and grenades keep snatching our loved ones?” the locals questioned. “If Abida had known she would lose her life there, she would have never gone,” said Kulsuma, a neighbour.
Aamina Begum, another local, expressed her concern, saying, “Who will take care of her children now? What have those responsible for this achieved?”.
“Kashmir is mourning every day. Every family here is grief-stricken,” she said.
Waseem Raja, the brother of Abida Kounsar expressed concerns about the safety in Kashmir, questioning why such attacks continue despite heavy security measures.
He urged the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to ensure formal rehabilitation for the children and take action to prevent further violence.
Another group of women expressed that these killings must end as soon as possible. “What have the attackers achieved by doing this? These killings must stop to end this daily bloodshed,” they said.
The lady left behind three minor children, including two sons, Mohammad Hafi and Zuhair Zubair, and a daughter, Aubihiyah Zubair.
Zuhair, the ten-year-old elder son, said that his beloved mother was killed for no reason. “Our Mumma is no more with us,” he said. “She wanted to buy me a winter jacket and other winter stuff for my brother and sister.”
The deceased was laid to rest in Sumbal, where her natal family resides. Hundreds of people attended her last rites, with women wailing in grief, their sobs and tears filling the air as they mourned the loss.
Meanwhile, different political leaders expressed grief over the demise of the victim.