New Delhi: The story of an enduring friendship between two childhood friends emerges from Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch days after the intense conflict in the region, India Today reported.
The border town of Poonch reportedly witnessed heavy shelling in the midst of the conflict between India and Pakistan.
Pardeep Sharma, 51, a former BJP MLA, wholeheartedly came out to help those injured in the conflict.
The attack from across the border struck a local madrassa, Jamia Zia Ul Uloom, operated by Pardeep Sharma’s childhood friend, Sayyed Habib.
When mortars descended on the madrassa housing 1,200 students, Habib immediately called up Pardeep Sharma, who rushed to the scene.
Viral footage later showed him carrying the wounded to safety, thus Poonch residents calling him as the ‘guardian angel’ for his bravery.
A maulvi was killed and three children injured in the attack.
First met in Class 9 at Poonch Government School, Pardeep Sharma and Sayyed Habib developed a strong bond despite later they traveled diverging paths—one opted for politics while the other turned to religious leadership.
However, when an emergency came up needing help, Sayyed Habib had no one to turn to—except his childhood friend, Pardeep Sharma.
‘The maulvi died in my arms. I tried to help by placing a cloth on his cheek, but he couldn't be saved,’ Sharma recalled, adding that ‘Then I rushed to save three children. The hospital was full, so I held on to them until a stretcher became available.’
When he was asked to take care of himself at that time, Pardeep Sharma said ‘I told them the shells weren't meant for me. At least not today’.
Highlighting the religious harmony in the region, he said: ‘With me were Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs-all working together to help. In that moment, nothing else mattered but saving those kids.
Referring to the difficult situation, Sayyed said: ‘I called Pardeep bhai. I knew he'd come- and he did. ’
They had previously joined hands during the COVID-19 crisis.