Rajouri, Jan 21: A pall of gloom has engulfed the residence of Muhammad Aslam in Badhaal village, Rajouri, where his six children, an elderly uncle and an aunt have fallen victim to an unexplained disease under mysterious circumstances within a week spanning January 12 to 19.
Village has been witnessing a sequence of mysterious deaths since December 7, 2024 and has lost 17 lives so far.
Aslam and his wife Shakia Bi are the sole survivors in their household, left to pick up the pieces of their shattered world.
The couple’s house, once filled with laughter and playful antics of their children, has transformed into a haunting scene, devoid of warmth and joy.
While Shakia Bi, failing to gather strength to utter even a single word, refuses to talk to anyone; her husband Muhammad Aslam recounts horror of their personal loss, which is not easy to explain in words.
“Who else could be so unfortunate than me who lost all six children, an uncle and aunt who were like my parents and staying with me in the house,” Aslam said.
At a loss of words, he paused with a hope that the truth behind those deaths would be out soon.
“I am only praying before God to bring out the truth,” he said.
Six deceased children of Aslam include Yasmeen Kouser (15) (who passed away on Sunday), Zahoor Ahmed (14), Nabeena Kouser (8), Maroof Ahmed (10), Safina Kouser (11) and Zabina Kouser (7).
In addition to his six children, Aslam also lost his uncle Muhammad Yousaf (62) and aunt Jatti Begum (60), who lived with the family and considered Aslam as their (adopted) son.
Earlier on January 20, the authorities in Badhaal village of Rajouri district sealed the house of Muhammad Aslam.
Eight deceased members of Aslam’s family are among seventeen villagers who have lost their lives under mysterious circumstances since December 7.
However, the authorities are still groping in the dark to establish the cause of these deaths.
The decision to seal the house was taken after experts, accompanying a high-level inter-ministerial team of the Ministry of Home Affairs, collected samples from the premises on Monday.
Following the collection of samples, officials said, the experts suggested that the house be seized to prevent any further potential risks and to avoid interference in further sampling.
Acting on this, officials added, the house was sealed. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kotranka, Dil Mir, carried out the proceedings for the seizure of the house.
“We have seized the house of Muhammad Aslam as was suggested by some experts,” confirmed ADM Kotranka Dil Mir.
