J&K Mother Jana Begum's Last Appeal to Hizbul Son Unheard; She Passes Away

The haunting plea of Jana Begum, a mother from Kishtwar, went unanswered as she passed away this week, her final wish unfulfilled. Begum had earnestly appealed to her son, Riaz Ahmed, to abandon terrorism and return home, but Ahmed, who joined the ranks of the Hizbul Mujahideen 15 years ago, never returned.

In private conversations months before her death, Begum had implored her son, saying, “Come back, take care of me. If I die, shoulder my coffin. What kind of jihad is this, where parents are abandoned?” Her husband, Mohammad Ramzan, had echoed her sentiments, urging their son to shun violence and return to the family. Despite these heartfelt appeals, Ahmed remained absent, a stark reminder of the devastating human toll of militancy in the region.

Riaz Ahmed is now a wanted militant, with a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. His long absence underscores the persistent challenges authorities face in addressing militancy, as well as the deep personal tragedies it leaves behind. Security officials observing the situation noted that social media and online networks are increasingly being used to indoctrinate and recruit young individuals, creating a cycle of violence that spans generations. “We’ve lost two generations, and now they are consuming our third one by indoctrinating and brainwashing them using social media,” one officer told NDTV.

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Begum’s funeral, held three days ago, was attended by family members and local residents, but the absence of her son cast a long shadow over the proceedings. Her story is not unique; it mirrors the anguish faced by countless mothers in Jammu & Kashmir and other conflict-affected areas, who wait in vain for the return of children drawn into militancy. Each missing child leaves behind a family grappling with grief, uncertainty, and the heavy burden of societal stigma.

Beyond the personal tragedy, Begum’s story sheds light on the broader socio-political implications of long-standing militancy in the region. Families torn apart by extremist ideologies are left to navigate loss and trauma, while authorities continue to tackle the operational and security challenges posed by insurgent networks. The story of Jana Begum is both a human tragedy and a reflection of the ongoing struggle to break cycles of violence that impact entire communities.

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