Rajouri-Shopian case: A family of Army soldiers looks for answers

Srinagar: Abrar Ahmad, one of the three missing Rajouri youth alleged to have been killed in the July 18 Amshipora, Shopian encounter, belonged to the family of Army soldiers who fought wars against Pakistan.

Abrar Ahmad Khan (17) son of Bagga Khan, his brother-in-law Abrar Ahmad (25) son of Mohammad Yusuf, and their relative Imtiyaz Ahmad (20) son of Sabr Hussain, all residents of Peeri, Kotranka in Rajouri district, are missing since July 17 evening after they had gone to Shopian to work as labourers.

The elder Abrar’s uncle Madad Hussain retired as an honorary captain from the Army. His second brother Muhammad Bashir, who retired as Havaldar from 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI), fought the Kargil war in 1999. Madad Hussain’s son Subaidar Zakir Hussain is currently serving in the Army.

“We belong to the family of Army soldiers. Two of my brothers retired from the Army and one of them participated in the Kargil war. My six kin are still serving the Army and other security forces,” Mohammad Yousuf, father of Abrar Ahmad, told The Kashmir Monitor.

Three weeks after the trio went missing, families of the trio were shocked to see the purported picture of three alleged militants killed in an encounter at Amshipora village in the Shopian district on July 18.

The bodies bear a stark resemblance to two of the missing labourers – the 17 year-old-Abrar and the older Abrar. A third body in the picture is placed facedown with clothes pulled up over his head. Bullet marks can be seen on the back of the third body.

“My son has been killed. This is not even done to the enemy. I want justice. I want the truth to be unveiled. I want the body of my son. My brothers who served in the Army are standing behind me like a rock,” said Yousuf.

Despite losing his son, Yousuf has full confidence that administration and forces will deliver justice. “Administration is fully supporting me. I have full trust and confidence that they will do justice with me. I appeal to everyone to treat my kids like their own and deliver justice,” said Yousuf.

For the last two years, Abrar had been working in a Korean company in Kuwait. Three months before he came home on leave. He was scheduled to return but due to COVID 19 lockdown, he could not join. 

“During his vacations, he constructed house. He was readying to go back, but then COVID happened. He could not go. His passport and tickets are with me. Since he was now sitting idle, he decided to go to Kashmir to earn a livelihood,” said Yousuf.

Meanwhile, the samples have been drawn from the family members in Rajouri which will be matched with three alleged militants slain at Amshipora, Shopian last month.

Inspector general of police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar said police are working on two aspects of the July 18 Shopian encounter case.

“We will match DNA samples of families with those of slain militants. A team headed by DySP Wajahat has left for Rajouri to complete the legal formalities. Second, we will check the call details of all the three slain to find out whether they were in touch with any militants,” he said.