‘Efforts are on to trace three Kupwara missing persons’
Srinagar, June 24 : Seven months after three persons went “missing” from northern Kupwara district, the government Friday said “efforts are on to trace the missing persons”.
Three persons, Ghulam Jeelani Khatana S/o Karam Ding Khatana of Dardpora, Mir Hussain Khatana S/o Mohammad Ismail of Sathoyan and Ali Mohammad Sheikh S/o Abdul Aziz of Checkpora went “missing” on 17th November last year.
However, the families of these persons, alleged that a Territorial army man, Manzoor Ahmad Khoja S/o Ghulam Qadir of Dardpora (160 Bn. Territorial Army) picked them from their villages.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who hold the Home department portfolio, while replying to a written question of National Conference MLA from Khanyar, Ali Muhammad Sagar, said that investigation of the case is under progress.
Mehbooba said that after a complaint was lodged by Noor Hussain Khatana S/o Karam Ding Khatana of Dardpora, Kupwara, before police, an FIR No. 100/2015 u/s 364 RPC was registered in Police station, Kralpora on 28th November, 2015.
“The investigation of the case is in progress. During the course of investigation, the statements of witnesses were recorded under section 146 CrPC. The investigation of the case is under progress and efforts are on to trace the missing persons,” she said.
In November last year, Manzoor reportedly met the trio in Kralpora, Kupwara. As per their family members, the TA army man had promised a job to them and took them along.
When they didn’t return home that evening, the worried families tried to reach them on mobile phones, but their phone was either switched off or not reachable.
The families grew suspicious and approached the Army unit of the accused soldier to know whereabouts of their family heads. However, the Army had distanced itself from the incident.
On November 28, they had approached a court which had directed police to file a case. The TA man Manzoor Ahmad was arrested and investigation was started. The shattered families have now pinned their hopes on the judiciary for justice. (KNS)