Ummer Fayaz was born in Kulgam, Jammu & Kashmir, India in 1994, and studied at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Anantnag and the National Defence Academy.[8] He faced several difficulties while in training as people in his home were not supportive of his decision to join the Indian Army. However, Fayaz was determined to join, as he used to say "I will change my Kashmir, I will make it heaven on earth again".[citation needed]
Abduction and killing
At the time of Fayaz's abduction he was on leave from duty and was also unarmed. He had come to his uncle's house in Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir to attend a marriage ceremony in his family. On the night of 9 May 2017 he was abducted from his uncle's house. Militants shot him twice, and his dead body was found the next morning.[9][10][11]
Aftermath
He is survived by his father, who is a farmer, his mother and two sisters.[12] He was given a guard of honour and the funeral was attended by 400 people.[13] His murder was extensively criticized on social media.[14][15] A candle march in his memory was also organised at India Gate, Delhi on an evening in May 2017, which attracted enormous support and publicity.
All the militants who were responsible for his murder were killed in operations on 31 March and 1 April 2018 by Rashtriya Rifles units.[16] Jammu & Kashmir Police stated that militant Abbas Bhat, who was wanted in connection with Fayaz's abduction and murder, was among the militants killed in Operation Batagund on 25 November 2018.[17]
Legacy
In 2017, Lt Ummer Fayaz was the 847th name to be engraved on the War Memorial at the Indian Military Academy.[18] In May of the same year, the Army Goodwill School, an army school in Jammu and Kashmir, was renamed to Shaheed Lt. Ummer Fayaz Goodwill School by the Indian Army to honour Fayaz.[19][20][21]
A book named, Undaunted: Lt. Ummer Fayaz of Kashmir by Bhaavna Arora is based on the life of Ummer Fayaz.[22]
