They walk miles through the deserted streets of Srinagar stealthily during curfew hours. The man is carrying a white sack on his shoulder. His wife beside keeps an eye out on security patrols.
At first glance, Zubeda Begum and her husband looked like another desperate family trying to fend for itself in the troubled summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
The city is racked by deadly protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a gun battle with security forces on Friday.
DEFYING CURFEW TO FEED FRIENDS
The Muslim couple is defying the curfew and risking their lives for what may be termed an act of humanitarian civil disobedience.
Across the river Jhelum, a Hindu family has run out of food because of heavy restrictions on public movement.
Begum and her husband have set out in order to feed them after her friend from the distressed family called out for help.
I AM TAKING FOOD TO THEM
"She called me in the morning, saying her family needed food supplies," Begum says.
"They have an ailing grandmother staying with them. I am taking the food to them. It is difficult but we are trying to reach them."
The shops and establishments remain shut for days and there is no means of transport on the roads. To add to their woes, police have limited the movement of people.
WALKING ALL THE WAY
With no transport around, the couple instead chose to walk with a sackful of food to Jawahar Nagar.
It's succour for his family, says Diwanchand Pandit, as he welcomes Begum and her husband in.
According to the couple, the risk and effort of the long walk was compensated with the warmth they received after arriving at the doorsteps of Diwanchand's house in Jawahar Nagar.
PANDIT'S WIFE & MUSLIM WOMAN
Pandit's wife and the Muslim woman are teachers in a local school. The Pandit family has been living in the Valley for many years.
The unrest of past days has impacted supplies of essential commodities in the region.
"Everyone is suffering here. We are so glad that these people came here. This is where humanity lies," says Pandit, as he sees the Muslim couple walking into his home with food.
HUMANITY AMIDST VIOLENCE
In the midst of this violence, Zubeda's heartwarming story is a perfect example of how humanity prevails even in times of adversity.
Security forces in riot gear patrolled Srinagar and other parts of the Valley on Monday. The city was largely closed, with shops and other business establishments shuttered because of the curfew.
The clampdown continued in 11 police-station areas of Srinagar and in Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts.
INTERNET,MOBILE SERVICES BLOCKED
Authorities have also blocked mobile and Internet services partly, as a precautionary measure. The curfew come in the wake of the killing of Wani, who had become a poster-boy of terrorism in Kashmir.
He used social media to rally support of young Kashmiris, authorities say.
The toll from the violence sparked by Wani's killing reached 30 on Monday, with fresh clashes occurring between police and protesters in Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam districts of Kashmir.
The number of those injured touched 300, including 150 security and police personnel.
Protesters set a security post on fire in Achan village in Pulwama district, officials said. Police fired shots at unruly mob in Shopian, in which two people were injured. They were hospitalised in Srinagar. Separately, one army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing on the LoC in what was a ceasefire violation. According to military sources, Pakistani troops were providing cover fire to infiltrators trying to cross into India.
http://m.indiatoday.in/story/kashmi...ence-for-a-hindu-friends-family/1/712686.html
meanwhile common civilians are busy with their life, work... kudos to the family...
