Where Villagers Can’t Sleep as They Hear People 'Cry'

The family claims Umar is a juvenile but despite that, he was arrested and slapped with the Public Safety Act (PSA). The school records, where Umar was enrolled between 2011 to 2014, shows he was born on March 16, 2005. A copy of his admission form at Maktabia Islamia High School, Shopian, also mentions the same date of birth. Umar is the youngest among six siblings. Tall and broad, with prominent features, he could easily pass off as an adult in the mid-20s, his sister says. The family is not sure where Umar has been shifted. Somewhere in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi or Lucknow, they say. “Doesn’t matter, we won’t be able to go see him,” his sister says. The financial condition of the family is not in good shape, especially after his arrest.

Umar’s older brother, Tariq, who was also allegedly summoned by the police, left home soon after their father died and lives separately with his own family. Two of his sisters are married. The remaining family, dependent on Umar, was initially reluctant to speak with media. “The police summoned our brother and informed him that speaking to the media can jeopardize Umar’s release. We don’t want him to get in trouble as he doesn’t live with us,”. Since the government imposed a clampdown across Jammu and Kashmir and unilaterally revoked Article 370 on August 5, tension has intensified in the area. Faced with an enormous crisis, the people in Shopian shudder as they recall the situation since the crackdown began.