IUST student hailing from Pulwama joins JeM
Pulwama: Another student of Islamic University of Science and Technology Awantipora (IUST) who was missing since June has reportedly joined the banned outfit Jaish e Mohammad as his gun wielding picture has gone viral on social media.
The youth has been identified as Aaqib Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Mohammed Wani resident of Braw Bandina village of Awantipora in Pulwama district.
Aaqib who was pursuing PG degree in Economics at IUST according to his family went missing on June 10.
“He went for some routine work however, he didn’t return back,” said one of his family members.
“We tried to look for him everywhere but failed to find him after which we filed his missing report at the concerned police station on June 15,” they said
“We all were shocked after his photo went viral on social media on Monday because we were not expecting this step from him as we have already lost one son in 2008,” they said, adding that he was never arrested by forces before nor was he taking part in street protests or was inclined to join militant ranks.
Pertinently, Aaqib’s brother Sohail Ahmad Wani was affiliated with Al-Badr militant outfit and he was killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir’s Lolab area in 2008.
Belonging to a middle class family, Aqib has left behind a brother and parents.
A senior police official confirmed to ‘Kashmir Vision’ that they have received a missing report about the youth in June.
“However, we are ascertaining the authenticity of the picture that shows him wielding a gun and having joined JeM,” he added.
Jahangeer Ganaie
