On the last day of year 2016, which witnessed heightened tension along the line of Control between India and Pakistan, as the preparations were underway in Noorkote village to bury the youngest victim of Pakistan shelling in frontier Poonch district a message was sent through the local mosque to the Pakistan Army commander to silence their guns to allow the mourners to assemble in the burial ground and offer prayers on Saturday afternoon.
It is only after the message was conveyed to the Pakistan Army the funeral procession of Tanvir Ahmed was allowed to cross the barbed fire fencing located meters away from the line of Control.
Tanvir, a student of class nine became one of the youngest victim of Pakistan shelling on Friday after he was hit by splinters of mortar shells exploded near his fields.
Before Tanvir was rushed to the nearby hospital he succumbed to his fatal injuries.
One by one as mourners chanting religious slogans and sending silent prayers were crossing the area they were looking tense as intermittent firing was still going on in the area since Saturday morning.
Deputy Chairman J&K legislative council Jehangir Hussain Mir was one among the mourners who paid rich tributes to the latest victim of Pakistan shelling on the eve of New Year 2017.
Since September 29, the day Indian Army had conducted surgical strikes inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and grounded several terrorists training camps frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch witnessed tense security situation.
It was sheer irony even on the last day of 2016 the local residents were attending the funeral of one of the youngest victims of Pakistan shelling than ushering in to the New Year on a peaceful note.
After attending the burial ceremony Jehangir Hussain Mir told reporters, "these border residents are acting as foot soldiers of the Indian Army even without uniform and guns in their hands". He said it is for this reason Pakistan Army has been regularly targeting these patriotic border residents and punishing them.
He claimed a proposal to build trenches in the forward villages is pending and need urgent approval so that precious human lives can be saved.
Commenting on the conduct of the Pakistan Army he claimed they cannot be trusted as they had past history of stabbing Indian forces in the back. He said despite dialogue offers made by the Indian political leadership Pakistan is shying away from coming across the dialogue table and waging proxy war against India. Mir demanded better facilities at the local dispensary and ambulance facilities for villages to take care of such critical injuries.