Last wish granted

SRINAGAR: The scars of partition never healed for freedom-fighter Sant Singh Teg. He always wanted to visit his home in PoK, but that was not to be as he died with the wish at 100 in Jammu on September 16.

His other wish, that his ashes be taken to his ancestral village of Hatian Dupatta and immersed in the river Jhelum, however, was fulfilled by his family members who performed the last rites according to the Sikh religion at his birthplace.

Teg, who fought against the Dogra monarchy, had made a wish that his mortal remains be consigned to flames at his birthplace or his ashes be immersed in the Jhelum, which flows from Kashmir to PoK.

“He had made three wishes a day before he diedy. One, his mortal remains should be taken to PoK for last rites. Second, if the body is not allowed in PoK, his ashes should be immersed in the Jhelum at his village. The third one was that his body be taken home. We could fulfill two wishes and our family members have now left for PoK to immerse his ashes,” said his son.