Suicide in Kashmir reveals plight of ex-rebels turned gov’t staff

Death highlights plight of former rebels-turned-government employees who have not been paid for more than two years.

Kulgam, Indian-administered Kashmir – On Friday evening, Shoaib Bashir Mir called his friend Muhammad Abbas from an apple orchard in Avil village in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Mir asked Abbas to upload a video he had made on social media. In the video, the 24-year-old had recorded his last message. “I am sacrificing myself for all those teachers who have been deprived of their salary for two and a half years now, so their problems are solved… My father’s salary has been withheld and our life has become wretched beyond imagination,” he said, his voice choking.