NEW DELHI: One of the several slogans that were enough to elicit a sense of patriotism and protest reverberated through the blowing winds. "The murder of Ummer has taken their so called movement to a new low. He was killed only because he belonged to the Army?" asked Lieutenant General Satish Dua . Dua, a counter-terrorism specialist who played a key role in planning the much-talked about surgical strikes in PoK, is the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC)."This is a murder. He was not in an operation but sitting in the comforts of his family. They only wanted to send a message. If not, the nexus would have been concerned as he could have been a role model for other youth in Kashmir," Dua told TOI. Dua, who is also a former Corps Commander at Srinagar-based 15 Corps, along with his wife Aradhana paid tribute to the young officer."J and K is and will be a part of India. Our religion is soldiering. And If they think they will get away with a murder like this then they are under a misconception. We will fight back. We must also try and declare Pakistan as a terrorist state. It is only few people in Kashmir are indulging in such activities," said Lieutenant General (retired) VK Chaturvedi with the chants of Indian Army zindabad in the background.Not very far from the war heroes were people from other walks of life. The Kauls migrated from J&K in the early 90s -- an episode that will always remain etched in their memories, they say. "We are migrants in our own country. Given the ongoing situation, thing are required to be dealt with strictly," said Reeta Kaul. Standing by her side, her husband Utpal called Fayaz as "brilliant child" and said, "We have to send out a message that Kashmir will always be a crown of India and it can never become an Islamic state.""Sidakdeep Singh, an Army aspirant, knew he had to be at India Gate at around 6.30 pm, Saturday for he was one of the few who knew about Fayaz from close quarters. Six-months senior to Fayaz in the National Defence Academy, Singh always knew something was different about the Kashmir officer. "He motivated everyone and had nerves of steel," he said. "It is sad that Kashmir has gone into a self-destruction mode. Examples such as Fayaz need to be broadcast on a massive scale," Singh asserted, holding a poster that read "Dear brother, you will be missed".

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