Sopore: Muslims on Thursday attended the last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit in Zaloora village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
110-year-old Rupa Devi, wife of Late Ardanath Pandit who lived in a Muslim-dominated area in Zaloora died after a protracted illness. The Muslim community helped the family perform the last rites of Devi as per Hindu rituals.
“This is true Kashmir, this is our culture and we share brotherhood. We do not believe in divisive politics. We share composite culture,” said Abdul Rashid Mir, a neighbour.
Devi decided to stay in Kashmir valley in ‘90s when the majority of Kashmiri Pandits migrated from the region.
“A majority of people present during the last rites were Muslims. We condemn incidents which try to create differences between Hindus and Muslims. We live here in peace and harmony,” said Devi’s son Ramesh Kumar. As news of her demise spread in the region, hundreds of Muslims, including women and children, rushed towards her house and took part in last rites.
