Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian: At least five youth from southern districts have been reported to have gone missing and are likely to have joined the militant ranks.
*The missing youth have been identified as RuheedMaqbool son of Mohammad Maqbool resident of Shamsipora village in Anantnag district, Sayar Ahmad Bhat son of*
*SanaullahBhat resident of Manchowa in Kulgam district, Tajamul Ahmad Khanday son of Mohammad* *YousufKhanday resident of DrakLaranAbhama in Keller area of Shopian* *Asif Ahmad son of Gulzar Ahmad Dar resident of Bongam in main town Shopian and Kaisar Ahmad Manhas resident of KrewaManloo in Shopian.*
Ruheed, a class 11th non-medical student , studying at Senior Secondary Public School Bijbehara according to his family has left home for School on March 18 and didn’t return home ever since.
He used to reach home at around 05 pm but on Monday, Ruheed didn’t return, leaving all the family members worried, said his brother Javaid.
“We tried to reach him on his phone but to no avail,” he said, adding that they contacted his friends, their relatives but failed to get any update following which they filed a missing report at the concerned Police Station.
*“Ruheed didn’t attend the classes on Monday. We miss him very much,” said Sahil Ahmad, one of his classmates.*
He was not inclined towards militancy and has never participated in street protests, Ruheed’s brother said, adding “we don’t think that he has joined the militant ranks.”
His family comprising of his two elder brothers, four sisters and parents have requested the people to help them in tracing Ruheed, saying “if he is with anyone, we request everyone to release him.”
*Another youth, Sayar from Kulgam according to his family has left home before ten days during evening to offer prayers but he too did not return.*
“We searched for him everywhere but failed to find him anywhere and later filed a missing report at the concerned Police Station,” they said.
Sayar who has completed his Bachelors degree was arrested once over stone pelting charges, they said.
*Belonging to a middle class family, Sayar’s marriage was also fixed with a girl in Shopian district and Nikah ceremony was scheduled to be held on April 06, his friend said, adding that Sayar was very famous for his volley ball skills in the area and he used to spent most of his time in playing volley ball.*
Sayar was close friend of local militant Hilal Ahmad Malik who as per police was a longest surviving militant and was killed along with his associate in an encounter at Chadoora area of Budgam on Feb 13, 2019.
*His family consists of two brothers, two sisters and parents, who have requested all the outfits to allow their beloved to return home if he has joined them.*
Tajamul Ahmad Khanday, a 12th class student according to his family has left home on 15 March and never returned.
*“We looked for him everywhere but failed to trace him following which we filed a missing report at the concerned police station,” said his cousin.*
*He was never arrested before and never showed any inclination towards militancy, he said.*
Belonging to a well off family, Tajamul has left behind two brothers and three sisters.
*Asif resident of main town Shopian according to his family has left home on March 19 and since then he is untraceable.*
“After failing to trace him, we filed his missing report at the concerned Police Station,” they said.
Belonging to a well-off family, Asif a B.A student was also running a shop in main town. Locally known as Kachru for his hair colour and looks, Asif has left behind two brothers and one sister besides his parents.
One of his friends on condition of anonymity said that he has joined militant ranks as he was the part of militant group who offered gun salute to their colleague at Arhama.
*Another youth Kaisar Ahmad Manhas, a resident of upper belt Karewa in Manloo area of Shopian is also missing from 1st week of March and officials have confirmed that he has joined the militant ranks.*
Besides these five missing youth, two youth have already joined militant ranks this month in South Kashmir that include Yasir Ahmad Shah who was killed in an encounter at GadaporaShopian on Friday and ShahidManzoor of JawbehraAwantipora, friend of
*RizwanAsadPandit who was killed in Police custody on Tuesday last.*
*A senior police official confirming the missing report of five youth, said “we are investigating that under what circumstances they have left home and from initial investigation it is likely that most of them have already joined militant ranks.”
