Mukesh’s death has left Kushma and their children in a state of shock. Pic/News18
Mukesh Singh, a migrant labourer from Unnao’s Bhatpura village, was shot dead in the Rajpura area of J&K’s Pulwama district at around 12.45 pm on Monday
“Mukesh had left almost five months back with a promise that he would return on Karva Chauth. He kept his promise. The only difference is, this time he arrived in a coffin,” said Kushma Kumar (38), wife of Mukesh Kumar Singh, a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, who was killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday.
Mukesh Singh, a native of Unnao’s Bhatpura village, was shot dead in the Rajpura area of Pulwama at around 12.45 pm on Monday. “Terrorists fired upon one labourer identified as Mukesh of UP in the Tumchi Nowpora area of Pulwama, who later succumbed to his injuries. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police said on social media site X on October 30.
Officials with the Unnao district administration said that after completing all formalities including autopsy, the body of the deceased was brought back late on Tuesday evening.
Mukesh’s death has left Kushma and their four children in a state of shock. “Why Mukesh? What was his fault? Why did the terrorists target only him? What will happen to the family? How will Nisha get married? How will the family expenses be met?” Kushma has many questions in her mind, but there is no one who can answer them.
Mukesh is survived by his wife and four children—daughters Nisha (19) and Khushi (12), and sons Pankaj (14) and Ankush (9).
Kushma says that Mukesh’s dream to see Nisha get married remains unfulfilled. “I don’t know what to do, whom to approach, how to manage things. I don’t have anyone and have no money. I am still finding it hard to believe that Mukesh is no more,” said an inconsolable Kushma.
Until five months ago, she said, Mukesh used to work as an agricultural labourer in his village. “But even after working for almost 10 to 12 hours a day, he would earn Rs 150 to Rs 250, which was too little to meet the expenses of the family of five,” she added.
Kushma said some residents from her village were already working in Pulwama as labourers, and Mukesh thought of joining them to earn more. “We all tried to stop him but he was adamant that he would go to Kashmir to earn more money for the family. Mukesh’s dream was to get Nisha married and to give a good education to his children. Who will take care of his dreams now?” she said.
A pall of gloom has descended upon Bhatpura village ever since the news of Mukesh’s killing in J&K arrived. The villagers said that Mukesh was a good person who had no dispute with anyone. They are still finding it hard to believe that the terrorists killed Mukesh for no reason.
On Wednesday evening, on the eve of Karva Chauth–the festival celebrated by Hindu women, who observe fasts for the safety and long lives of their husbands–Mukesh’s body was brought to the village. His remains were cremated in the presence of the district administration and police. “Mukesh’s body was cremated during the late evening hours of Wednesday,” said Suresh Kumar Singh, station house officer (SHO), Asoha police station, Unnao.