New Delhi: The grave of 'Naushera ka Sher' Brigadier Mohammad Usman who was martyred while fighting the 1947-48 India-Pakistan war in Jammu and Kashmir, today remains in dilapidated condition.
The tombstone on the grave remains broken and surrounding area is littered with garbage. The boundary of the VIP cemetery is also damaged.
A Maha Vir Chakra awardee, the Brigadier was laid to rest with state hounours in Jamia where then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Viceroy Mountbatten were also present.
According to locals, the grave has been like this for nearly three months and now people throw garbage in the area.
The cemetery falls under the jurisdiction of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in South Delhi and is their responsibility to maintain the grave. However, when ETV Bharat spoke to the administration they denied the claim.
Also read: Army organises cultural event Jashn-e-Baramulla in J-K
"Even though the land of the cemetery belongs to Jamia, it is not our responsibility to maintain the graves. The family of Brigadier Mohammad Usman and the Army have been maintaining his memorial. But the Army has not come there since 2016-17," Ahmed Azim, PRO, Jamia Millia Islamia said.
Naeem Chaudhary, a former student of JMI said, "I had informed the relatives of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, but no one came."
He added that earlier, on the birth and death anniversary of the Brigadier, Army soldiers used to come, clean the area and hold programs. But for long now, the army has stopped coming.
With the news coming to light, the army has taken cognizance of the matter and some officers were seen inspecting the place recently.
