Muslims perform last rites of Kashmiri Pandit in Shopian

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Jan 23: While it was snowing throughout the day, heart-warming scenes were being observed in a Shopian village today where the body of a Kashmiri Pandit was being carried by the Muslim neighbours for miles to perform his last rites.

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Eyewitnesses said that they saw scores of Muslim neighbours of Bhaskar Nath—who passed away in SKIMS—carrying his body to the spot which was miles away for carrying out last rites of the deceased as per rituals.
Due to the snow that had accumulated on the road, the ambulance, reports said, carrying the body of the deceased was not able to move which prompted the locals to carry the dead body for a distance of at least 10 kilometres to Pargochi village of Shopian.
Locals said that the family of the deceased after being informed that the ambulance was not able to move, sought help from their Muslim neighbours who without any hesitation rushed to the spot.
The locals also put in place the required arrangements for the last rites to be performed.
The relatives of the deceased said that they have been a part of the community for long and have been living in harmony despite scores of pandits fleeing Kashmir.
Later hundreds of Muslims visited the bereaved family’s residence and offered their condolences.
Bhaskar is said to be survived by a son and two daughters. He is also being termed to be one among the small group of Pandits who stayed back in Kashmir.