Srinagar: Family members of Hilal Ahmad, a resident of Bemina who is missing from more than a week from the trekking to Gangbal in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, on Monday staged a protest demonstration again, demanding his “release”.
“I appeal to everyone with whom he is to return him to us. Please show us the way what to do,” a woman, accompanied by other family members, told media persons during a demonstration at Press Enclave, Srinagar.
On Sunday, three militants were killed by the government forces in a gunfight in Srinagar’s Zoonimar area. Initial reports and journalists claimed on Twitter that Mr. Ahmad was one of the militants killed. Addressing a press conference, Inspector-General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said, “We had inputs that Hilal was one among the three militants killed in the gunfight but another family has also made a claim for the body so we are going for the DNA to ascertain the identity.”
The family members were carrying banners that read: “Release Hilal from captivity”, “Mysterious disappearance of Hilal”, “Requesting concerned to step up efforts”, “Missing during trekking”, “Release the innocent [written in Urdu]” and “No Connection with militancy”.
The family says that Mr. Ahmad had gone for trekking to Naranag-Gangabal Lake in the Ganderbal district on 14 June. Since then, there are no whereabouts of Hilal, the family said. (GNS)