Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 7: The cycle of communal hatred between small sections of the majority and minority communities has created turmoil in the coastal region, resulting in the death of innocent people. First it was Deepak Rao and now it is Basheer, killed in retaliation to Deepak's murder, who has become the victim of needless violence.
After working abroad for several years, Basheer preferred to settle down in his hometown by constructing his own house and running a fast food restaurant at Kottara Chowki, hoping to make a new beginning with his family here.
When Basheer left for work on the fateful day of January 3, it was just another usual day for him and his family. No one ever imagined that Basheer would not return home that night, and worse still, that he would be murdered for no fault of his. Just as he was closing the restaurant for the day, miscreants, four of whom have been now arrested, attacked him causing fatal injuries, simply because of his identity.
Basheer (47) who was innocent and was known for his concern towards others and his cordial relations with people of all communities, ended up in a cruel death. Every since the attack, the entire fraternity was praying day and night for his recovery, even observing fast, but Basheer lost his four-day battle for life in a private hospital on Sunday January 7.
Basheer was employed abroad for 25 years. One-and-a-half years after taking a home loan, Basheer constructed his own house at Akashabhavan. Since he had the responsibily of paying back the home loan on his shoulders, he started his own business of fast food at Kottara Chowki. Basheer's sons Imran and Irfan stay abroad while two of his daughters are pursuing their education in Mangaluru.
It is learnt that Basheer's daughter-in-law is pregnant and there was get-together at his residence on the afternoon of January 3. After attending the get-together he returned to his restaurant and told his family that he would be back at the earliest. But before he could close down the restaurant, Basheer was brutally hacked.
Helping hand
Basheer was known for extending his helping hand without consideration of any religion or caste, and treated everyone equally, for which he was loved by all. He did not have second thoughts when it came to helping anyone, says his friends. In one instance, he helped his close friend in meeting his mother's medical expenses.
A friend recalled Basheer's initial days in Saudi Arabia where he stayed with Basheer for 15 years and shared fond memories while facing several hurdles together. During 1993 when Dakshina Kannada witnessed communal violence, Basheer and his freind Prabhakar were staying in Saudi. Some group of Muslims in Saudi tried to attack Prabhakar, but Basheer was the one who protected Prabhakar and saved his life.
It is perhaps fitting that when Basheer was attacked, two persons of other communities, Rohit and Shekhar, immediately came to his rescue and admitted him to hospital.