By Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag (NVI): The Sarpanch Peerzada Sayeed Rafi, who lost his life in recent terror attack in Anantnag while participating in government ‘Back to Village’ programme, was a selfless social worker and an embodiment of humanity and compassion for poor fellow beings, the very qualities that are said to have made him the target of terrorists.
In an attack in Hakura Badasgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district recently, terrorists had pumped three bullets in the heart of Sarpanch Rafi, who was the sole breadwinner for his family comprising 85-year-old mentally retarded mother, two wives and six teenage children. An Agriculture Officer Zahoor Ahmad sheikh was also killed in the attack while three other civilians were injured.
Having set an example by laying down his life in the line of social duty, 48-year-old Peerzada Sayeed Rafi was very recently appointed as Sarpanch in area was a known social worker who particularly espoused the cause of hundreds of homeless and poor widows’ families.
According to his neighbors, Sayeed Rafi also ran an NGO namely “Rafi Institute.” “He had helped hundreds of homeless and poor, particularly the families of widows,” his neighbout Mubashir Ahmad told News Vibes of India.
Son of late Peerzada Mohd Yousuf, Syeed hailed from Hakura Dehruna which lies about 25 km’s from main town Anantnag. Among his children, the eldest daughter is 17-years-old and the youngest son is only 5.
Apart from Sarpanch, Syeed Rafiq was also an Indian congress worker and was appointed as block president three years back.
Ironically, his mentally-retarded 85-year-old mother Farkunda Banoo still does not realise that her son is no more. His father had died in 2005 following a brief illness.
With tearful eyes, Syeed Muiz, son of Syeed Rafi, told News Vibes of India that “whoever have killed my father have done a great wrong. Who is there to take care of my teenage sisters and my mothers now?”
“I don’t know who have killed my father but I want to tell you that those involved in my father’s killing have no mind and mercy. They didn’t think even once about us,” said Muiz who is a student of 7th standard.
“I have three options now- to study, to fight or to hide from the situation. I have decided to study as well as fight injustice like my father,” said Muiz.
According to locals, it was no accidental death but a target killing. Syeed received three bullets on his heart right muscle and back bone.
Meanwhile, the relatives and neighbours of Syeed Rafi have demanded from government to help his distraught family financially as well as morally.
