Shopian: At least four youth have been reported to have gone missing and are likely to have joined the militant ranks, sources said.
The missing youth have been identified as Zeenatul Islam Mir, son of Mohammad Ishaq Mir of TurkwangamShopian, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul RazakBhatof WatchiShopian, Shariq Ahmad Nengroo, son of Mohammad YousufNegroo of ChotigamShopian and Shahid Ahmad Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat of NageenporaHaffuTral in Pulwama district.
*Zeenat according to his family went missing last week after he went for some work and didn’t return back.*
“We tried to locate him everywhere but failed to find him following which we lodged a missing report at concerned Police Station,” the family said.
They said that Zeenat was never arrested before nor was he inclined towards militancy.
*A school dropout, Zeenat who belongs to a middle class family was working as a painter and has left behind a brother and a sister besides his parents.*
Similarly, Manzoor who is locally known as Muneeb according to his family has also left his home before few days but didn’t return back.
Belonging to a poor family, Manzoor according to his friends was never arrested before but was much inclined towards militancy from last few years.
*It is likely that he has joined militant ranks as he was part of the militant group who offered gun salute to one of their colleagues at BhatnooraLassipora few days before, said one of his friends, wishing anonymity.*
*Manzoor who was a welder by profession has left behind three brothers, four sisters besides his parents.*
Shariq Ahmad, another youth according to his family has gone missing since 25th of this month.
“We tried to locate him everywhere but couldn’t find him and later we lodged a missing report with the police,” his family members said.
“We are much worried about him and request everyone to help us in tracing our beloved,” they said, adding that Shariq was never arrested before nor was he taking part in any protests.
A 12th dropout, Shariq has left behind a brother, sister and his parents.
Shahid Ahmad, according to his close relatives has left home on 19th of this month and didn’t return back. “We called all of our relatives and his friends but couldn’t find him anywhere and next day, we filed a missing report at Police Station Tral,” they said.
*He was never arrested before and he never showed any inclination towards militancy, they said.*
*Belonging to a poor family, Shahid who was a B.A student at GDC Tral has left behind a brother, two sisters and his parents.*
Pertinently few days before seven youth from southern districts were missing, among them one identified as Yasir of ArhamaShopian was killed in an encounter GadhaporaShopian while the other from ShamsiporaAnantnag returned home safely.
However, the other youth Shahid from Awantipora who too had gone ‘missing’ announced his joining the militants after his photo brandishing a gun went viral.
Nonetheless, there are no traces of other four youth.
*A police official while confirming the missing of four youth said, “We are investigating the matter whether they have joined militant ranks or not.”*
