Mourners are visiting the home of Makhan Lal Bindroo, a pharmacist who was among the three civilians shot dead by militants in the late hours of 5 October, as per Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The pharmacy of the 65-year-old Kashmiri Pandit in Srinagar is a familiar place to the majority of people in Kashmir looking for quality medicine. Bindroo Medicate is known for being one of the only medical shops in the Valley that does not sell counterfeit medicine.
The police said the attack occurred around 7:15 pm on Tuesday. “Bindroo received grievous gunshot injuries in this terror incident and was immediately rushed to nearby hospital. However he succumbed to his injuries,” the statement said.
Two other civilians were also shot dead on Saturday in Srinagar. The attacks were part of a spike in killings by militants that has put the security forces in Kashmir on guard.
Shraddha Bindroo said her father may have died but his spirit would always live on. “My father was a fighter, always said ‘I’ll die with my shoes on’,” she said.
“You can kill one person, but you can’t kill the spirit of Makhan Lal. Whoever shot dead my father, come in front of me. My father gave me education, while politicians gave you guns and stones. You want to fight with guns and stones? That is cowardice. All politicians are using you, come and fight with education,” said a fearless Shraddha Bindroo, without a tear in her eyes.
She further added, “Mister, who shot my father dead while he was working, if you have the guts and courage, come and have a face-to-face debate with us. Then we will see what you are. You won’t be able to utter a word. All you can do is throw stones and shoot bullets from behind.”
Recollecting her family’s journey, Shraddha said, “I am an associate professor. I started from zero; my father started from a bicycle, my brother is a famous diabetologist, my mother sits in the shop — that is what Makhan Lal Bindroo made us. A Kashmiri Pandit, he will never die. Despite being a Hindu, I have read the Quran. The Quran says you may kill the body, the spirit lives on. Bindroo will remain alive in spirit.”
In another interview, Shraddha Bindroo can be heard saying, “He was an awesome person who served Kashmir and Kashmiriyat. His body is gone but his spirit is still alive. Person responsible for the crime has opened doors of hell for himself.”