Ompura Muslim residents help in the cremation of Kashmiri Pandit

As soon as the news regarding Kaul’s demise reached people, they visited his house to extend condolences to the bereaved family. Kaul, known as a humble person, has always lived in Kashmir and never moved out from the valley even during the 1990s.

Kaul had departed on Monday.

“Kaul sahab’s family is among two Kashmiri Pandit families which did not migrate and continued to live with us. Irrespective of people’s faith, everyone in the area addressed Kaul Sahab as Jag toath (Jag dear),” said Kaul’s neighbour Aijaz Ahmad Khan.

Khan said the entire area was in grief and the locals extended complete support in performing the last rites of late Kaul. 

“It is mostly Muslim population that helped in the last rites. That is because there are only two Pandit families living in this neighbourhood”, Khan said

Local resident Muhammad Yousuf said late Kaul was known for his cordial behaviour with the members of the majority community.

“He was quite social and would visit local Muslim residents. He would be equally a part of everyone’s grief and joy. His death is a big loss for all of us” Yousuf said.

It may be mentioned that Kaul, a resident of Ompura was an employee of NCC and a popular figure in the area who spent a lot of time in the company of his Muslim friends.

Kaul left behind his wife and two sons who thanked the locals for showing support.