Srinagar, In a significant display of communal harmony, the Muslim community in Kulgam district came together to assist in the last rites of an 80-year-old Kashmiri Pandit, amidst ongoing communal tensions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the Narendra Modi-led government.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the local Muslims in the Adigam area of Kulgam district stepped forward to help with the funeral of Mohan Lal Pandit. With only a few family members present, Mohan Lal’s Muslim friends and neighbors took the initiative to carry out his last rites. This act of solidarity from the Muslim community is seen as an exemplary demonstration of communal harmony and brotherhood in the region.

The locals, including Muslims, organized and conducted the funeral rituals, mourning Mohan Lal’s passing as if he were one of their own. They shouldered his coffin and arranged the necessary wood for the cremation. Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar, a resident of the locality, expressed his sentiments, stating, “He was one of us. We never thought of him as a KP (Kashmiri Pandit). We arranged everything needed for the cremation.”

Mohan Lal Pandit, who had been living in the area for many years, shared a close bond with his Muslim neighbors. The community’s involvement extended beyond the immediate locality, with people from adjacent areas also visiting to offer condolences to the bereaved family.

Lal’s relatives acknowledged the support and assistance they have consistently received from the Muslim community. They noted that while the Muslims maintain a respectful distance during religious rituals specific to the Pandits, they actively contribute to other arrangements, showcasing a deep respect for communal coexistence.

This incident in Kulgam stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of unity and brotherhood among different communities in the region, even in the face of attempts to sow communal discord.