For this professor turned terrorist, it was all over in 48 hours

It was all over for this professor turned terrorist in a matter of 48 hours. Kashmir University assistant professor, Mohammad Rafi Bhat was killed along with four others in an encounter at Shopian on Sunday.

It may be recalled that Bhat had suddenly gone missing on Friday, leaving his parents and friends worried. As efforts were underway to trace him, the security agencies picked up an alert about the presence of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists at a private home in Badigam, Shopian.

The Forces then launched a cordon and search operation following which the 5 terrorists were gunned down. During the encounter, Bhat made a call to his father and sought his forgiveness. "Please forgive me if I have hurt you," he said.

Bhat, a resident of Chundhama village in the central district of Ganderbal, had completed his PhD programme on whole time basis at the Department of Sociology of Kashmir University, Srinagar in November 2017. He completed his thesis titled 'Globalization and emerging trends in consumerism: A comparative study in urban and rural Kashmir' under the supervision of assistant professor Dr Mohmad Saleem Jahangir.

"Sadly this is also an answer to those who claim jobs & development are the solutions to the violence & alienation in Kashmir. This is another tragic development in a steady stream of tragedies in Kashmir," former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said.