Fatwa against suicide fails, one more girl ends life

Srinagar, Aug 30 (UNI) Despite fatwa (edict) by Muslim ulemas, including the official grand mutfi of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Bashir-ud-din Ahmed against suicide, one more girl took the extreme step in the Kashmir valley today.

A police spokesman said Aisha Bano, daughter of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar, committed suicide by setting herself ablaze in her Kreeri house in Baramulla district.

''Suicide is an un-Islamic act. One who takes the extreme step would be in the same state till the day of judgement as revealed in the Holy Quran,''the ulmas said.

The predominantly Muslim Kashmir valley has witnessed a sharp increase in suicide incidents in the recent past owing to varied reasons such as unemployment, marital discord, failed love affairs and examination failures.

According to official figures, about 61 people committed suicide in 2006 while the number shot up dramatically this year touching 50 in the first six months.

More than twenty-four persons survived the suicide attempts during the same period this year.

The trend was also witnessed among the security forces.

About three dozen security personnel committed suicide while several others were killed by their colleagues in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two years.

This was despite the introduction of yoga to help the security forces, engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the strife-torn state, to combat mental stress.

UNI