Funeral of Revenue Official Held at the Line of Control
Introduction
This report describes the funeral of Liyaqat Ali Khan, a senior revenue official, and the gathering of his family members across the Line of Control in north Kashmir.
Main Body
The event took place in Keran village, located in the Kupwara district of north Kashmir. This village is divided by the Kishanganga river, which is known as the Neelum river on the Pakistani side of the border. Mr. Khan, who served as a Naib Tehsildar in the Ganderbal district, passed away on Saturday after being hospitalized in Srinagar for cardiac arrest. Many of Mr. Khan's close relatives live in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as they migrated there during the 1990s. Although Mr. Khan lived in that region for a short time, he later returned to Kashmir to finish his education and start a family. He is survived by his wife and four children, while his mother, uncle, and stepbrothers still live in Kashmir. After the news spread on social media, relatives from the Pakistani side of the border gathered on the opposite bank of the river. Because the border is closed, they had to stay at a distance to pay their respects. The body was placed near the riverbank for a while before the funeral rites and burial began. Local residents, including village leader Majaz Ahmad, emphasized that this event shows how current border restrictions prevent families from reuniting.
Conclusion
The event ended with the burial of the official, which was observed from a distance by relatives who were unable to cross the international border.