The kidnapping and killing of Lieutenant Umar Fayaz may have generated support and sympathy for his family across India, but none of the Jammu and Kashmir politicians, including those from the BJP and the Congress, have visited the slain officer's family at Kuglam in south Kashmir.
Not even the local legislator and leader of CPI (M) M.Y. Tarigami has spared time to visit the family members of Umar and offer them condolences.
The Army has extended the support to the fallen officer's family and handed over a cheque of Rs 75 lakh. It has also promised further support and vowed to avenge the killing of Umar.
Senior Army commanders, including a major general, met the family members on Umar's chaharum—the fourth of day mourning—to offer condolences on behalf of the Army.
Fayaz Ahmed Parry, the martyr's father, said nobody from any political party has met them.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who build her political career by visiting the families of victims of Kashmir conflict, especially those who suffered atrocities at the hands of the security forces, has only expressed condolences, but stayed away from visiting them.
"No political leader has come to see us,'' said Parry. '' Most of them have only issued statements of sympathy.''
Abdul Razak Rather, Umar's elder uncle, said everybody has expressed sympathy but nobody has come forward and offered any help.
The NC has also only offered lip service by condemning the killing. Even the BJP, which prides itself in taking up the cause of the Army, has only condemned the killing and expressed sympathy with the family.
A senior PDP leader said they should definitely have visited the family but couldn't because of the present situation in Kashmir, especially, in south Kashmir.
Though south Kashmir is in the throes of militant and civil unrest, visiting the family of the late officer is unlikely to pose any security risk to politicians.
On Sunday, when THE WEEK visited Umar's family, scores of men and women, neighbours, and relatives had come to offer condolences.
Observers believe that the politicians are playing it safe by not meeting the Army officer's family. They think this would enrage the separatist constituency further and put them in a tight spot on civilian killings.
