Deserter SPO’s cousin, close friend among three join militants
Shopian: Days after a Special Police Officer (SPO) joined the militant ranks after decamping with the weapons from a PDP MLA’s official residence, three more local youth have reportedly joined the militants while two among them are believed to be a cousin and a close friend of the deserter SPO.
SPO identified as Aadil Bashir of Zainapora Shopian decamped with eight weapons from the official residence of MLA Watchi Aijaz Ahmad Mir last Friday, leaving the entire security establishment in a tizzy.
Following the incident, deserter SPO’s friend and cousin went missing, sources said.
Yawar Mushtaq, son of Mushtaq Ahmed Dar resident of Thokerpora Shopian, a close friend of Aadil Bashir as per sources went missing soon after Aadil decamped with eight weapons from Srinagar.
However, the photos of Yawar Mushtaq, a student of B.A 2nd semester at Degree College Shopian while brandishing Ak-47 rifle went viral on social media.
Belonging to economically sound family, besides having vast orchards, Yawar’s father is a Village Level Worker (VLW). Yawar has two brothers and two sisters besides his parents in his family.
Local sources said that two days after Yawar went missing, his two cousins Sharif Altaf Dar, a 9th class student at Public Model School Gund Darvesh and Parvaiz Ahmad were arrested by forces and are yet to be released.
A friend of Yawar said “we were never expecting this step from him as he was never inclined towards militancy.”
Mohammad Rafiq Bhat, son of Mohammad Ashraf Bhat from Achan village of Pulwama district who is cousin of deserter SPO has reportedly joined the militant too as his photos while posing with an Ak-47 rifle has gone viral on social networking sites.
As per Rafiq’s friend, he went missing a day after Aadil Bashir decamped with eight weapons from Srinagar city.
Before one day his photos while carrying a gun went viral on social media, thus leaving all his relatives and friends shell shocked, he said.
Belonging to a middle class family, Bhat’s father is a butcher.
Meanwhile, photo of another youth Rayees Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohammad Khan of Vehil Shopian while carrying a gun have also gone viral on social media.
Belonging to a well off family of the area, Rayees as per locals went missing before twenty days and now his photos while carrying a gun went viral on social media.
Before joining ranks, Rayees was selling pesticides in his locality besides taking care of gas company and cement shop as well.
Jahangeer Ganaie
