Don't Fight In Name Of Religion And Caste: A Soldier's Final Message Minutes Before He Died

¡°Don¡¯t fight over hijab and saffron. It hurts us when we see such things,¡± was a soldier's final message, as per a report in Hindustan Times. It was recorded in one of the last voice messages sent by 37-year-old Havaldar Altaf Ahmed. This was just before he was killed in an avalanche in Kashmir on February 23.

In the voice note his friends shared on social media, he is heard making a plea for people to set aside their differences.

"Don't fight in name of religion and caste"

¡°Be well. Don¡¯t fight in the name of religion and caste. Our soldiers are serving here (Kashmir) and giving their lives so that you are well and safe. Think about the nation and teach your children to do that as well,¡± he added.

Altaf, who hails from Kodagu, Karnataka, was posted in Kashmir and was part of the Army Ordnance Corps. He is survived by his mother, wife, son and daughter.

AP

Altaf¡¯s wife Zuberi is a native of Yadapala in Virajpet and has been living in the Matanur district in Kerala for the last 10 years.

Altaf was raised in Meenupete and studied till Class 10 at St Anne¡¯s School in Virajpet and before completing his PU education at the Virajpet Government Junior College.

He served the Army for 19 years.

PTI

Hijab row

The Hijab controversy erupted when students in Bengaluru were not allowed to enter the classroom and it sparked a nationwide debate on religious freedom. The issue has not died down as yet and this soldier wanted to remind us that we are all Indians first and should not fight over religious matters.

A soldier to the very end, Altaf did his duty even in death as he appealed to the humanity of the people of the nation. Our soldiers risk and lose their lives so that we sleep soundly at night. The very least we can do is not fight among ourselves and abuse the very freedom for which they stand and are protecting.

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