Srinagar: A day after Makhan Lal Bindroo, a Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by suspected militants, his daughter Dr Shraddha Bindroo challenged the gunmen who killed her father to face her in a debate.
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.”
Remembering 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.”
Three civilians including Makhan Lal Bindroo was shot dead by suspected militant. Makhan Lal Bindroo was killed at his shop Bindroo Medicate in Srinagar.
Sixty-eight-year-old Makhan Lal Bindroo was shot at by the assailants from point-blank range while he was at his pharmacy, dispensing medicines.
An official said Makhan Lal Bindroo received four bullets and was declared brought dead at SMHS hospital. A famous chemist in the area, Bindroo had been operating his pharmacy in Srinagar for many decades and was also well known for his philanthropic works.
A Kashmiri Pandit, Makhan Lal Bindroo, was one of the few from the community who did not migrate out at the onset of militancy in 1990.
He stayed back along with his wife to continue operating his business which grew to become a trusted name in the city for quality medicines.
Within an hour, militants struck at Hawal area of the city, killing a non-local street vendor, an official said.
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