Woman Appeals for Hizbul Commander Son to Surrender Before Her Death

Janna Begum, an octogenarian from Jammu and Kashmir, passed away without witnessing her son Riaz Ahmed surrender from militancy. Her heartfelt appeals for his return remained unfulfilled.

An elderly woman from Jammu and Kashmir, who had repeatedly urged her son, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, to abandon militancy, has passed away. Janna Begum, from Aniyar village in the Marwah area, died at home four days ago. Her heartfelt appeals to her son, Riaz Ahmed, to return home and leave militancy behind went unanswered.

Begum's emotional video messages circulated widely on social media last November and December. In these videos, she pleaded with her son to surrender and return home to care for his family. "Let him surrender and come back to take care of us. At least he should be here when we are alive and shoulder my coffin," she said in one of the videos.

Unfulfilled Wishes and Family Appeals

A close relative confirmed that Begum died without fulfilling her wish of seeing her son return. "Her last wish remained unfulfilled," the relative stated. Riaz Ahmed is a high-ranking Hizbul Mujahideen commander wanted by security forces, with a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head.

Officials noted that Ahmed joined the militant ranks about 15 years ago. He is believed to be linked with one of the longest-surviving Hizbul commanders in the region. Begum's messages questioned the justification of militancy, highlighting the suffering of parents left behind.

Impact on Public Sentiment

In her appeals, Begum asked, "What kind of jihad is this where parents are abandoned? We are alone. Who will take care of us?" A police official commented that such family appeals indicate a shift in public sentiment against militancy.

The officer remarked, "Terrorism is not good for the country. Those who pick up guns face either death or jail. If he listens to his parents and surrenders, it will be a good step." These statements reflect a growing awareness of the consequences of militancy.

Begum's story highlights the personal toll of militancy on families in conflict regions. Her unfulfilled wish underscores the deep emotional impact on those left behind. The ongoing struggle between familial bonds and militant ideologies continues to affect many lives in Jammu and Kashmir.

With inputs from PTI