Srinagar, Dec 24: A family in the Kupwara district of north Kashmir claimed on Saturday that their son went missing while in the custody of the Army, however, police claimed the youth was assisting the search party for identification” of a hideout and had given them the slip.
A family from the Kupwara village of KunanPoshpora claimed that an Army party raided their home on December 15 around 8:30 PM as the family was eating dinner. Following this, the party took their 27-year-old son Abdul Rashid Dar for interrogation.
Rashid’s elder brother Hilal Ahmad Dar claimed that on December 15, as the family was eating dinner at home, Rashid was picked up by the Army.
“They detained him and assured us that after questioning he (Rashid) will be released soon,” he added.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Yougal Manhas told Rising Kashmir that an investigation is underway in the case and we are working on some clues.
He said Abdul Rashid Dar of KunanPoshpora, was picked up for questioning in connection with a terror-related case and he managed to give a slip to forces while accompanying the forces party to the hideout.
SSP Kupwara Manhas said during the investigation, Rashid had revealed about the hideout but he managed to give a slip search party accompanying him.
“Police are investigating in which circumstances he managed to flee. We are in touch with his family also,” he added.
Meanwhile, PRO (Defence) Srinagar, Col EmronMusavi told Rising Kashmir that the issue is being pursued. We are assisting the Police in tracing the missing individual, he said.
Hilal said their family has been moving from pillar to post for the past 9 days to know the whereabouts of their kin but no concrete reply from authorities so far.
“Rashid had no links with any militant outfit and is innocent,” he said, adding that Rashid was an auto-driver and has never been involved in any anti-national activity.
“He drove a load carriage vehicle and did menial jobs to support his ailing parents and sister. Rashid was expected to leave for Punjab on December 16th to sell Kashmiri shawls along with laborers in the village,” he said.
“Following the case, our family went to meet DSP and SSP Kupwara to intervene in the matter and they assured us that Rashid will be traced soon, but it has been 9 days till date,” Hilal said.
“We appeal to everybody including the Army and Police to release him immediately. We have been very anxious for the past 9 days. This incident had left us in deep shock,” he said.
The family has approached the local police station in tracing out their son and registered a complaint in this regard and asked for help from the police.
On Wednesday, Rashid’s family staged a protest in Srinagar and requested Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration and the police to investigate the matter.
