H-M synthesis: Muslim bus driver says Lord Shiva's blessings gave him strength to save Hindu pilgrims

by Guest Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:27 pm

Salim Shaikh, the bus driver who risked his life to save the yatris as they came under attack in Kashmir, tells his story.

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I drove away from that spot as fast as I could. There was darkness all around me. I wanted to reach some safe spot quickly where we could all get down and those injured could be taken to hospital. Everyone inside the vehicle was shouting but I didn’t panic and I was determined to drive fast and focus on reaching a safe spot. For about 3 kms, I kept driving till I saw a military camp where I made a halt. Then some of the army men surrounded us and came to our help. They brought us down and took the injured to the nearest hospital. They didn’t allow any other people there to come near us.

The vehicle I was driving was registered with the authorities. You can’t take pilgrims and travel with them without registration. There were security stickers on our vehicle as well. I think you can still find them on the vehicle. You can’t travel to the Jammu camps without registration. We had followed all the rules. It was only that we were late by a few hours due to the tyre punctures on the way while leaving Srinagar. We did not break any rules.

I never thought something like this would ever happen in Kashmir. I have been coming to the Valley for past four years, driving the pilgrims, taking them around without any trouble. There was no problem at all. The pilgrims didn’t fear anything. The local Muslims have always been helpful and kind with the yatris.

Even this year, before coming to the Valley, we didn’t have any security apprehensions. I thought the maximum that can happen is that one can be caught in some stone pelting incident somewhere on the way.

The managers and a few other people travelling with me that day had been coming to the valley for the Amarnath Yatra for the past 10 years. Some of the pilgrims who were travelling with me this time were new yatris. They would ask me about places to go and see in Kashmir before and I would happily take them around for sightseeing. Some of them unfortunately died despite all my efforts and prayers that they survive their bullet injuries. I had developed good relations with some of the people who died.

It’s good that all people have expressed grief over these deaths. I heard people have protested and condemned these deaths there in the valley as well. This is the right thing to do. It is not about Hindus or Muslims. All lives are precious. I could have also died that night.

Whatever happened on Monday evening was wrong. It should not have happened. I can only pray for the departed souls now.

https://thewire.in/157074/amarnath-yatra-driver-terrorist/

H-M synthesis: Muslim bus driver says Lord Shiva's blessings gave him strength to save Hindu pilgrims

H-M synthesis: Muslim bus driver says Lord Shiva's blessings gave him strength to save Hindu pilgrims

Re: H-M synthesis: Muslim bus driver says Lord Shiva's blessings gave him strength to save Hindu pilgrims

Salim Shaikh, the bus driver who risked his life to save the yatris as they came under attack in Kashmir, tells his story.