The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : News of SI's death shocks kin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

News of SI's death shocks kin

Marri Ramu

Two days ago, he called up saying things were smooth, says son

M.A. Shukur

HYDERABAD: All the four sons of Sub-Inspector of Police, M.A. Shukur, 55, were waiting to hear from their father on Friday. Instead, they received the news of his death. Shukur was among the four Hyderabadi pilgrims who died in the Haj stampede.

"Two days ago, my father called up saying everything went off smoothly. He was elated that his dream of performing Haj was fulfilled. We were shocked to see his name in the list of stampede victims on a television news channel this morning," Shukur's third son Naseer told The Hindu on Friday.

Presently, working in the Women Protection Cell of Crime Investigation Department, Shukur left for Haj on December 14 along with his wife Sabera Begum, 50, and daughter Ayesha Sultana, 20.

Hailing from Mahbubnagar, the SI was living at Anandnagar Colony of Hayathnagar.

Shocking news

Shukur's sons got worried on learning about the stampede at Mecca on Thursday. They were a bit relieved as the Haj Committee office initially assured that everyone was safe, but then came the shocking news of their father's death.

What pained Naseer and his brothers was the fact that their mother and sister were not aware of his death till Friday evening. "We learnt that my father asked my mother and sister to stay back in the tent and went for `stoning of the devil' ritual. For them, he went missing from Thursday afternoon," Naseer explained.

Depressed over his father's untimely demise, Naseer and his brothers were even more upset, not knowing how to break the news to their mother and sister who were expecting Shukur's return. Finally, they had contacted another relative who was in Mecca and asked him to take the two women to the hospital, saying Shukur was serious.

"They would learn the fact on reaching hospital. You can understand the trauma we're undergoing," Naseer broke down.

`Dear friend'

Shukur was the colony's association secretary and his demise was a rude jolt to the residents.

The colony association president G. Gopal Reddy said the stampede had taken away his dear friend. "He never exhibited the typical attitude of a policeman and was friendly with elders and children alike," recalled Mr. Reddy. He felt that Shukur might have fallen down in the stampede since the latter had a knee-joint problem.

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