^{_{What makes this story even more heartbreaking is that it wasn’t terrorists from across the border who claimed Dr. Mathu’s life, but some of  his own colleagues—people he trusted, people he worked with.}}

(By: Dr. Rajesh Bhat)

In the troubled landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, where militancy has claimed countless lives, the loss of talented individuals has often been overlooked. The mountains and valleys of this conflicted land have witnessed unimaginable grief, especially for those like Dr. Deepak Mathu, a bright star among the Kashmiri Pandits, whose life was tragically cut short under suspicious circumstances. His story, however, isn’t just one of a life lost to terrorism, but of a young man’s dreams, ambitions, and ultimately, betrayal by those he trusted.

A Brilliant Soul with Great Ambition

Dr. Mathu was not just any ordinary soul. He was a brilliant mind, a kind heart, and a man with a vision for the Nation. Born to devoted parents, he grew up with a fierce desire to make a difference. After completing his Medical Degree with distinction, he could have easily settled into a prestigious career as a doctor. But his ambitions were far greater. Determined to serve the Nation, he set his sights on the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), eventually earning a place in the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre for Jammu and Kashmir. His future was bright, and his path was one that would have surely led to greatness.

But tragically, his life took an unexpected and devastating turn!

The Mysterious Death

In the early 1990s, amid the growing unrest in Srinagar, Dr. Mathu, an IPS Officer, posted in Srinagar,  was found dead under mysterious circumstances. His family, devastated by the loss, refused to believe that his death was a mere accident. The circumstances surrounding his passing raised too many questions, and it soon became clear that his life had been snuffed out as part of a sinister conspiracy. What makes this story even more heartbreaking is that it wasn’t terrorists from across the border who claimed Dr. Mathu’s life, but some of  his own colleagues—people he trusted, people he worked with.

A Father’s Unyielding Quest for Justice

For his father, the quest for justice became an unrelenting pursuit. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, as he knocked on every door of authority, hoping to unearth the truth behind his son’s death. Yet, every effort was met with cold bureaucracy, frustrating delays, and the callousness of a system that often fails to protect its best and brightest. Despite his tireless efforts, Dr. Mathu’s father was left without answers.

But his love for his son never waned. Even in the face of this crushing silence, Dr. Mathu’s parents found a way to honor their fallen hero. For months after his death, they would visit newspaper offices, carrying their son’s photograph—dressed proudly in his police uniform—hoping that the world would remember their son not just as another victim of the militancy, but as a man of honor, integrity, and boundless potential.

The Pain of Betrayal

The killing of innocents, especially those by conspiracy, is a betrayal of the highest order. It’s a wound that cuts deeper than any other. While terrorism in Kashmir has taken the lives of many, the cold-blooded conspiracy that claimed the life of Dr. Mathu is a reminder of a different kind of darkness—the kind that grows within. His death was not just a loss to his family, but to the Nation, to the people he had set out to protect.

Dr. Deepak Mathu  was a man who had the world at his feet, a son who made his parents proud, and a patriot who wanted to serve his country. His untimely death left a void that can never be filled. Unfortunately, most of us have forgotten him….But as long as his story is told, his memory will live on—not just as a victim of a conspiracy, but as a symbol of what Kashmir, and indeed the entire Nation, lost during those dark days. His father’s quest for justice continues to echo in the hearts of those who still remember, a reminder that some wounds can never heal until the truth is known.