Slain militant’s brother kidnapped, thrashed
Pulwama: Unidentified masked gunmen on Sunday night abducted Muhammad Arif Malik the brother of a slain Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander from his shop in Litter area of Pulwama. The abducted youth was later set free in an injured condition.
Arif Ahmad Malik, brother of former Lashker commander Pintoo Malik and son of late Gulam Hassan Malik resident of New colony Litter area of Pulwama was kidnapped by unknown gunmen around 7:00 pm on Sunday evening from his shop which he runs in main market litter. The youth according to reports was beaten to pulp and a confession video of him was also shot.
Family sources said that Arif Malik is the younger brother of Muhammad Altaf Malik aka Pintoo Malik, a LeT commander who was killed in forces action on 15 April 2007 in Vehil-Nowgam area of Shopian.
Elder brother of kidnapped person, Tariq Ahmad Malik said that he was kidnapped by masked men near his shop around 7 pm of Sunday evening and was later released. “He has several injury marks on feet, hands and head, we took him to Pulwama hospital from where he was referred to SMHS Srinagar,” he said.
“We don’t know who kidnapped and tortured him but we came to know he was kidnapped by armed, masked gunmen,” he said.
Locals from the area opine that he had reportedly helped troops in locating a militant hideout in his house.
Meanwhile Arif’s confession video has viral on social media. In video, Arif replies to the person who had kidnapped him that “Two searches were conducted by forces in our house and later I showed them the hide out in which militants were hiding when they told me that they will save me and my house”.
“I committed this mistake by showing them the hide out and now I apologize to the warriors (militants) and people of Kashmir for this. I will leave my village for four months and it is God’s curse on me,” he said in the video.
Duty officer Lassipora Sarfaraz Ahmad confirmed the incident and said that family refused to disclose the identity of the persons who kidnapped Arif.
“He (Arif) is stable and he has injury marks on hands and feet, he was referred to Pulwama hospital from there he was referred to SMHS Srinagar.
Pertinently two militants were killed in this encounter at Litter on October 14, who were identified as LeT commander Wasim Shah of Heff village of Shopian and Nisar Ahmad Mir Litter village of Pulwama who was perusing PhD before joining militant ranks.
Besides two militants a civilian was also killed in protests that took place during the encounter.
KV Correspondent
