The Hyderabad Central University unit of ABVP yesterday organized an event in the campus to pay homage to the young Kashmiri army officer Lt. Umer Fayaz who was abducted and brutally murdered by militants on 9 May 2017 when he was on leave to attend his cousin’s wedding in Shopian.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students were joined by retired Wing Commander Sri Bal Reddy. Over 50 students who gathered to pay homage observed silence for two minutes and lit candles to remember the supreme sacrifice of the martyred officer.
Addressing the students post the lighting of candles, Sri Bal Reddy said that Lt. Ummer Fayaz, who hailed from militancy hit area of Kashmir valley, exhibited tremendous courage and patriotism by joining army in spite of being fully aware about the possible consequences. Youth of India should emulate the icon.
Not too long ago, in this very campus slogans like “Tum kitne Yakub maroge, ghar ghar se Yakub niklenge” were howled. But today we are paying homage to a brave soldier, not a terrorist in this campus, which is a welcome change. Heartless murder will make more bravehearts, the Kargil war veteran said.
Fayaz was a cheerful, agile young man who had bright future ahead of him. Perhaps he would have went on to become first army general from Kashmir had he continued in service for next 40 years and played a key role in integrating Kashmir with rest of the nation. A life full of possibilities was nipped in bud, he rued.
Sri Bal Reddy ended the heartfelt homage saying if he had another life, he would like be born in kashmir and join Indian army, like Lt. Fayaz did.
