South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

Srinagar, Thursday, April 24, 2014: As suspected gunmen attacked Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party when it was coming back along with polling staff at Nagabal in Shopian this evening, one of the polling official who was critically injured in the attack succumbed to his injuries. The victim identified as 27-year old Zia-ul-Haq Wani son of Muhammad Yousuf Waniof Hirpora Shopian was working in education department as a teacher in Government Primary School Herpora Shopian. While another Manzoor Ahmad (Polling official) was injured.
Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq will never return to see his four-month-old daughter Maria.  The 27-year-old primary school teacher was deputed as a polling officer at Nagbal village. Zia is survived by wife Sumaira and daughter Maria. The two got married three years ago. “Come and see your child, she has been deprived of your affection,” cried Sumaira. Zia was one the two sons of Mohammad Yousuf, who was recruited as a Rehbar-e-Taleem in 2005.
“I have lost a caring son. He was so concerned about my health…,” Zia's father said, sobbingly. 
Hundreds of people participated in the funeral prayers of Zia at his native village on April 25.
Meanwhile, Syed Ali Geelani and APHC spokesman condemned the killing of Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq and expressed condolence to the aggrieved family.
A pall of gloom descended on Hurpora village when the body of Zia-ul-Haq was brought here. Grief and anger is visible on every face in the village, amid cries and wails from the house of the deceased government teacher.
According to locals Haq was appointed as government teacher only some months back and was the only bread-winner for the family.  With her daughter cuddled in the lap and mother sitting nearby, Haq’s 25-year old wife, Sumaira, said: “I do not believe he is dead. We just started our married life and had made lots of plans for our future”.
“I last saw him off two days back, when he proceeded for poll duty saying he would get a special gift for me on his return. I never imagined we will have to receive his body,” Sumaira cried and fell unconscious.
The scene in the tent outside the house was no different as other family members of Haq including his mother and sisters mourn his tragic demise.
“I have lost my love, my heart. He was my life. Please get me my son back so that I could see him again,” Haneefa, his mother was constantly crying. However, his two sisters were not able to utter a single word. 
Outside the tent as least twenty teachers, who worked with Haq said that he was the best teacher they had ever seen.  “He was the most talented teacher, besides being religious, dedicated and humble,” Haq’s colleague Nadeema Jan said.
The killing of a 27-year-old primary school teacher, Zia-ul-Haq, has left over 5,000 government employees, who have to discharge their duties as poll officials worried.
The Employees Joint Action Committee said employees could not afford to risk their lives. 
In Shopian district all the government schools and Colleges remained shut on Friday in memory of the government teacher Zia-ul-Haq Wani.
Chairman ReT Teachers Forum Jammu and Kashmir, Ghazi Abdul Aziz on this occasion told CNS that they have decided to suspend the work in all government schools and colleges of Kashmir Valley on Saturday against the brutal killing of government teacher Zia-ul-Haq. He castigated government for not providing foolproof security to polling staff and said that all the government teachers would stay from electoral process in case government fails to provide them proper security.
Hurpora and its adjoining areas observed a complete shutdown while protestors clashed with Indian CRPF personnel at Meemandar and Hurpora hamlets. Locals said that CRPF on Thursday evening assaulted people without reason.
Employees Joint Action Committee (Q) president, Abdul Qayoom Wani said after holding an emergency meeting said the tragic incident has made the whole employees fraternity insecure. “The employees are being made scapegoat which won’t be tolerated at any cost,” he said.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyet Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Ali Geelani while expressing his deep sorrow and dismay over the killing of Zia-ul-Haq in Shopian has expressed his sympathy with the bereaved family and condoled the demise. Geelani advised the government employees that they should resist their forced selection or deployment and if the government will further force them, they can fight it out in the judiciary also. He said “that the election in Jammu and Kashmir are actually a practical military operation and government employees are forcibly included into this military operation which doesn’t have any moral or legal justifications and it is also a grave human rights violation.”
Calling elections a military operation, he said: government employees are forcibly included into this military operation which doesn’t have any moral or legal justifications and it is also a grave human rights violation.  
Geelani said as there is huge presence of Indian forces, paramilitary forces and police, so government should select its polling staff among these police and other forces and the civil employees should not be dragged into this military exercise.