For the 18-year-old boy, who moved to Pune after his family was wiped out in front of his eyes by a militant group in a remote village of Jammu and Kashmir, the city has given him a new lease of life.
Joginder Singh is currently preparing for his standard XII exam in commerce stream and wants to become a banker. However, a few years ago, he was unsure about his future when his family was killed by militants in a remote Lehota village in Doda district in 1999.
“I was just five years old when this incident took place. It was around 8 pm when militants opened fire at our house. My sister threw me in another room. I kept lying on the floor while the firing was going on and somehow I survived,” Joginder told dna.
After the incident, his relatives took him to Jammu where he completed his standard X before Pune-based NGO Sarhad adopted him and he shifted to the city one-and-a-half-year ago.
The move has helped Joginder to overcome the tragedy and concentrate on studies. Enjoying his Diwali vacation by making a fort with other students, he said, “I like this city very much and am enjoying each day in Pune.”
Though he has seen the death of his family in front of his eyes, Joginder wants to settle in his native village after completing the education in Pune.
“I want to go back to Jammu and Kashmir and contribute towards the betterment of the state. I am not scared of militant attacks. I also think that India should strongly reply to the firing incidents that are happening in the Valley otherwise the people will keep suffering and children like me will have to move out of Kashmir,” Joginder said.
Sarhad founder Sanjay Nahar said, “We helped Joginder to get admission in the commerce stream. We will assist him all the way till he settles down in his life.”
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