Director Census Operations J&K Amit Sharma bereaved

Jammu, Jan 31: Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and the Director Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh, Amit Sharma on Saturday suffered personal irreparable loss in the demise of his mother Santosh Sharma.

Santosh Sharma, wife of former MLA and doyen of cooperative movement in J&K, late Baldev Sharma, passed away in Jammu today after a brief illness.

She was 87.

Poignantly sharing a brief account of his deep personal loss, Amit Sharma, who is presently serving as Director Census Operations (DCO) and Director Citizen Registration (DCR), Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, said that his mother went through a brief period of illness for last few days but was a long-time survivor battling with liver and heart related ailments.

Last rites of Santosh Sharma, who was widely respected for her dignity in public life and quiet support for overwhelming contribution in the public service, were performed on Saturday, January 31 evening at Shastri Nagar Cremation Ground, Jammu at 4.30 pm.

A cross section of people, including senior bureaucrats and officials of Police and civil administration attended the last rites.

She is survived by her son Amit Sharma, a 2012 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer.

He (Amit Sharma) termed his mother as a “true source of his inspiration right from childhood till date who built a strong foundation of his success in terms of education, value systems and social life.”

People from different walks of life expressed their deep condolences to the senior IAS officer over his colossal loss and prayed for the peace of her departed soul.

They prayed for strength to Amit Sharma to bear this irreparable loss.

A large number of mourners also visited the bereaved family at their residence at 28-C, C/D, Green Belt Park, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.

The management and staff of Greater Kashmir and its sister publication, led by the Editor Fayaz Ahmed Kaloo, too mourned the demise of Santosh Sharma and expressed heartfelt condolences to the Director Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh, Amit Sharma. They prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss.