In Parbepally village near Nandyal, the home of Siachen hero Sepoy Mushtaq Ahmad, a mixed feeling of pride, sadness and anger was palpable.
As Mushtaq Ahmad was laid to rest in a local Kabristan (grave yard) with full military honours after customary Namaze Janazah (funeral prayers), family members, including the widow Nasimunnisa, put up a brave front full of pride over the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
Mushtaq was among the nine Indian soldiers of Madras Regiment who were buried in an avalanche in Siachen. His body was flown to Hyderabad on Monday where the senior officials of the Army and other units and Government paid floral tributes at his Tricolour draped coffin at the Begumpet airport.
later the body was taken in a special ambulance to Parnepalle where the last rites were performed with gun salutes.
Special arrangements were made on the occasion and 100 Army personnel and 200 policemen were present. A large number of people from surrounding areas also attended the funeral.
For Parnepalle residents, the Army is part of the day to day life as 15 local lads are serving in Defence forces, many of them inspired by Mushtaq who was seen as a local hero as he had fought against terrorists in many operations in North East and Jammu and Kashmir.
Mohammed Ibrahim, Mushtaq’s father said, “he laid down his life for mother land. We are proud of him and also of the fact that entire country is with us in this hour of tragedy”.
Mushtaq was youngest of the four sons of Ibrahim. While two others are farm labourers another has gone to Dubai looking for work. Mushtaq has left behind his six-month-old son Mohsin. “Only five months ago my husband was here to see our son. He was so happy and spoke of constructing our own house in Nandyal” she recalled.