No impact of fatwa as incidents of suicide increase in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 24 (UNI) Yet another girl committed suicide in the Kashmir valley with no impact of the fatwa issued by the Ulema against the act, official sources said.

They said despite the fatwa, a Meema, daughter of Shaban Khanday, consumed some poisonous substance in her Buchoo Bala house under police station Awantipora.

She was immediately rushed to hospital where doctors declared here brought dead.

Meema was the second girl who took the extreme step during the past 24 hours in the valley.

In another incident, a girl, Firdousa Bano, daughter of Mohammad Subhan Bhat committed suicide in her house at Khanmoh in south Kashmir district of Pulwama yesterday.

It was not immediately known why the girls took the extreme step.

The incidents of suicide in the Kashmir valley, particularly among women have increased despite the fatwa.

The Ulema including Grant Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Azam Bashir-ud-din said that suicide was an un-Islamic act and against the teachings of Prophet Mohammad.

The trend to commit suicide among the security forces, engaged in counterinsurgency operation in the valley, also did not decrease despite introduction of Yoga and Art of Living closses to help them to come out of stresss.

About 30 securty personnel have so far committed suicide in the valley while a dozen others fell victimsto the bullets of their colleagues.

Family disputes and work stress are the main reasons for taking such extreme steps, sources said.

UNI