PDP leader’s relative among two youth take up arms
Shopian: Two more youth including a close relative of a PDP leader have joined militant ranks in this restive south Kashmir area.
Despite increased encounters and attempts by forces to curb militancy in Kashmir, the youth in south Kashmir area are still showing a growing inclination towards militancy.
Reports said that two more youth from Pulwama and Shopian have picked up arms and their gun wielding photographs have also gone viral.
The youth have been identified as Kamran Zahoor son of Zahoor Ahmad resident of ShadabKarewa, the upper belt of Shopian district and Basit Ahmad Sheikh son of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh resident of Argi check Rajpora.
Kamran as per his friends had completed his B tech degree and as per official records he was missing since 1st week of January 2019.
“We looked for him everywhere after he went missing but couldn’t find him anywhere. However, just yesterday his photograph while carrying a weapon went viral on social media and we too felt miserable that he has joined militant ranks,” said one of his relative.
Belonging to a well off family, Kamran was never arrested before and he never showed any inclination towards militancy, said his relative, wishing not to be named.
Pertinently, Kamran is said to be a close relative of PDP MLC ZaffarManhas.
Another youth, Basit Ahmad from Argicheck which is considered to be a sleepy village amidst the higher reaches of Pulwama, as per his family went missing in the last week of March 2018.
“After he went missing we tried to look out for him everywhere. When we could not locate him we informed the police who too were investigating his disappearance,” a relative of Basit said.
“Today we were informed by a neighbour that his photograph while wielding a gun has gone viral and we all were shocked to hear it,” he said.
Basit who has passed his 12th class examination from Govt HSS Drabgam last year was considered as the noble soul, who was always living within himself, said his friend Khurshid Ahmad.
Belonging to a middle class family, Basit has left behind two brothers and two sisters besides his parents.
Both as per the photographs have joined militant outfit HizbulMujahideen, a police source said.
Meanwhile, another official when contacted said that they are confirming the authenticity of the photographs.
Jahangeer Ganaie
