Promising J & K cricketer Nayeem Bhat killed in Handwara firing incident

Nayeem Bhat, a budding cricketer from Kashmir, lost his life yesterday after he was shot in an army firing. Army had to fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob in the Handwara town of Kashmir. The incident killed three people – Two youths and a woman. One of the two youth was Nayeem.

Nayeem was a promising cricketer from the state and aspired to play for the Jammu Kashmir and the Indian team in future. He had represented the Government Degree college and Kashmir in several junior level.

It was reportedly said that the youngster “was recording a video on his mobile phone, right opposite Kashmir cloth house in the main chowk when he was shot. He died on the spot, said Abdul Rashid Saraf, a local shopkeeper.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the security personnel involved in the killing of the youth will be given exemplary punishment as such incidents cannot be tolerated since these have a “negative impact” on the state government’s efforts to consolidate peace efforts.

“In retaliation to the public assault in Handwara Chowk (a popular market), the security forces deployed (there) used force to disperse the violent rampaging mob. In the process, two individuals — Mohammad Iqbal and Nayeem Qadir Bhat sustained fire-arm injuries,” the spokesman said. “They were evacuated to hospital where they, unfortunately, succumbed to their injuries,” he said, adding that the police deeply “regrets the loss of life”.

The boy’s family is in grieved after this saddening incident.

“His father is with his body in the police station. Can you please tell him to bring my Gavaskar back,” Nayeem’s mother urges a group of mourners, including me, as we enter the house.

“Cricket was his passion. He would travel to Baramulla Degree College to practice, which is 30 kilometre from here, almost three days a week and played for a local club,” Farooq Ahmad, Bhat’s cousin told Firstpost.“His dream was to play for India,” Amir added.

“His dream was to play for India,” Amir added.

Nayeem’s room as decorated with pictures of his favorite cricketers including a poster of his state’s famous off-spinner Parvez Rasool.

He was a student in Government Degree College, Handwara and was famous for his extraordinary performance in the state-level Under-19 cricket competition. He was the first cricketer to be selected for Under-19 cricket coaching camp from the northern district of Kupwara.

Nayeem’s childhood friends recall him as a cricket-crazy boy whoi wanted to represent India. His best friend Waseem Ahmad said, “He was selected for J & K at the youth level, but never made it to the senior team. He was playing for college, but was still very confident of making it, despite his current bad patch. Sad, that it has been cut like this.”

According to other sources, Nayeem was recently declared the best player in a district tournament. Pictures have surfaced on social media indicating that he was also lauded by senior police officers of the state.