Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited Nedgam village to express his condolences to the family of Dr Shahnawaz, who died in Budgam on Sunday evening. He was tragically killed in a targeted terror attack in Debargagangarh.
The Chief Minister directed the Budgam Deputy Commissioner to initiate the process of providing a government job to a family member under SRO-43 and provide relief and rehabilitation services under relevant schemes. Abdullah also announced that the government would bear all costs related to Shahnawaz’s son’s civil service education and training and promised to realize his father’s dream of becoming an army officer. “Whether it’s training, coaching or anything else, we will bear it,” he confirmed. “We will do whatever it takes to make him an officer.”
The chief minister was accompanied by his advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Chadoora Ali Mohammad Dar, MLA Beerwah Shafi Ahmad Wani, MLA Khansahib Saifuddin Bhat, Deputy Commissioner Budgam and other officials. He encouraged Dr. Shahnawaz’s son and brother, currently studying at Kashmir University and Jammu University, to continue their studies and promised full financial support to them.
Dr. Shahnawaz’s eldest son Suhail used to work as a warehouse clerk at APCO Infratech but quit a month ago. Expressing the dire situation of the family, he said, “My father is the sole breadwinner of our family and supports my brothers, sisters, mother and two unmarried uncles who live with us. My brother is a student at Jammu University student, my sister just got married. My uncles have limited income, one is a student and the other is a farmer. We have no other means of support.”
Suhail further lamented: “Our families have not only lost their breadwinner but also their financial backbone. We have lost everything that sustained us.” My father dedicated his life to supporting orphans and the less fortunate. Now, our entire family has lost a caregiver and provider, leaving us feeling like orphans. ”