When the entire nation is celebrating Independence Day on Saturday, numerous photographs and videos emerge from different parts of the country. However, one picture from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was particularly special on this auspicious occasion.
The parents of Abid Ramzan Sheikh, a dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, hoisted the Tricolour at their home in Chotipora, Shopian, area of Jammu and Kashmir.
The photograph is striking, showing the family of a terrorist proudly hoisting the national flag in the Chotipora area. The parents' faces reflect a sense of pride and self-respect for the country, conveying a message that tells a different story.
Within minutes, the picture went viral on social media, with thousands of posts hailing the parents of the terrorist for hoisting the national flag at their home. Many users said the gesture sent a strong message to anti-national elements within the Valley and across the border.
Who is Abid Ramzan Sheikh?
Abid Ramzan Sheikh is a self-proclaimed commander of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and has allegedly been involved in several major terrorist activities.
He has been named in several cases and was accused of involvement in the killing of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier in Shopian district in 2022. The alleged killer was arrested at the time.
It is noteworthy that in 2022, terrorists shot dead CRPF jawan Mukhtar Ahmed at his residence in the Check Chotipora area of Shopian.
Regarding the incident, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had stated that security forces arrested the killer of the CRPF jawan and recovered the pistol used in the crime at his instance. An Over Ground Worker (OGW), who was allegedly assisting him in the terrorist crime, was also arrested.
The heinous crime was allegedly carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba on the instructions of Abid Ramzan Sheikh.
The incident recalled another Independence Day celebration in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, when Muzaffar Wani, the father of the dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen's self-styled commander Burhan Wani, hoisted the Tricolour.
Muzaffar Wani, a teacher and then principal of a government school, hoisted the national flag at the school and stood for the national anthem along with other teachers.
Burhan Wani was one of the most prominent faces of terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, particularly among the youth. He was around 25 years old when he was killed along with two other terrorists in an encounter.
