What was so unusual about a young boy from Salani, Poonch deciding to join the Indian Armed Forces? It was that when Rifleman Aurangzeb enlisted, militancy was at its peak. While his district was the breedinground for infiltrators and locals were scared of even associating with India, here was a man who openly declared that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and don the olivereen.Aurangzeb had witnessed multiple encounters as a young boy where Lashkar militants would barge into their homes and threaten to kill his father because of his solidarity with India. Yet, he stood hisround and joined the forces.Aurangzeb was amongst the many who wore the uniform and yet, he was different! Never hesitating to voice his opinion on the functioning of the administration in his district, he was a fearless man who always followed his heart. That heart also led him to a beautiful woman he had promised to marry, a promise that remained unfulfilled.This is the story of a man who was ready to fight his people for his country.It is the story of a man who is the reason behind there being at least one person in the forces in every home in Salani.A braveheart who was kidnapped by the Lashkar, Aurangzeb was tortured, recorded and brutally murdered―the militants still lost because there was no fear in his eyes and he died with his head held high.
