Umar Fayaz isn’t a militant but a poor shopkeeper, says family

SRINAGAR — The family members of Umar Fayaz, who was declared as a militant by police on Wednesday, said that he was at his shop when a bullet pierced his chest.

“Umar is not a militant. He has no militant links. He runs his father’s shop at Lawaypora and is a poor shopkeeper selling poultry etc. He was hit by a bullet when he was very much at his shop,” Umar’s uncle Abdur Rashid Thakur said at SMHS hospital, where Umar is battling for his life.

Umar was hit by a bullet and was operated at SMHS where his condition continues to be critical.

“Umar’s mother is a patient and his father was recently operated for his heart ailment,” said Thakur, adding, that there are blood marks of Umar still left at his shop. “Police should correct the facts and visit the shop once.”

He said they were stopped at Shalteng due to which Umar lost lot of blood. “We arranged 18 points of blood for him so far. May God save him,” he said.

Umar’s aunt, who was present at her house at Lawaypora which is just few meters away from the shop run by Umar, said: “I heard a few bullet sounds. I went outside and saw Umar shouting, “Auntie, I am hit by a bullet and I am dying.”

“We were stopped at Shalteng and after repeated requests, we were allowed to proceed,” she said amid tears.