An 86-year-old woman, Janna Begum, passed away in her native village in Kishtwar, with her last wish — to see her militant son return home — remaining unfulfilled, officials and local sources said.
Janna Begum died a few days ago in Anyar Marwah village after prolonged illness. Her son, Riaz Ahmed, is an A+ category commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, carrying a reported reward of ₹10 lakh.
Family’s emotional appeals went unheard
According to family members, Janna Begum repeatedly appealed through media messages for her son to abandon violence and return home. Her husband, Mohammad Ramzan, said she hoped until her last breath that Riaz would surrender and come back.
Family sources said Riaz was allegedly influenced into militancy around 2010 by another militant, Rizwan, who has since surrendered and is currently out on bail.
Local journalists familiar with the family said the elderly parents had consistently told their son that the path of violence would only lead to destruction and could not be justified in religious terms.
Father renews appeal, blames radicalisation networks
Following his wife’s death, Ramzan again appealed to his son to surrender, stating that serving one’s parents and helping the poor was the true path of duty. He also alleged that external radicalisation networks linked to Pakistan were responsible for influencing vulnerable youth.
Security officials said it would be in Riaz Ahmed’s interest to surrender and return to civilian life. Police and intelligence agencies continue to monitor militant activity in the region.
The incident highlights the emotional toll militancy continues to have on families living in conflict-affected regions.