Srinagar: Family members of Hilal Ahmad, a resident of Bemina, who was reported missing from upper reaches of Kangan, while trekking to high altitude twin lakes of Gangabal, in Ganderbal district, more than a week ago, staged a protest on Monday, here in Press enclave to demand his release.
While raising slogans “We want justice” they said that missing youth had no connection with militancy.
This was the third protest of the family, since the youth went missing on 13th June, while trekking in upper reaches of archeologically important tourist spot Naranag area, which also serves as the base camp for trekkers, intentions of undertaking a trek to high altitude twin lakes of Gangabal.
The protestors raised slogans demanding the release of the youth and were carrying placards in their hands, which read ‘Bay Gunah Ko Chore Do (release the innocent)’, ‘Ph.D. Scholar Hilal Abdul Basit Missing’, ‘Help Us To Find Him’, ‘Save Hilal Basit’ and Release Him From Captivity’ written on those placards.
While talking to reporters, one of the lady protestors accompanying the family said, “We appeal to all, with whom he is to release him and allow him to return to his family.”
Another protestor Nissar Ahmed, a close relative of the missing youth was quoted as saying by news agency CNS that, “Hilal is innocent and he has no connection with militancy and has no offensive record to his credit since the last 20 years.”
“Check his phone record to verify our claim of him being innocent”, he added.
The protestors also urged the government to question the other five youth, who were part of the group, accompanying the missing youth to the trek and to clarify why was fake news about him being killed in Zoonimar-Srinagar encounter on Sunday.
Pertinent the five other youth of the group, who were the part of the expedition are presently with police and were taken along by the rescue team of the police, to identify the spot, where Hilal was last seen on 14th June; however, the team has so far failed to trace the 26-year-old missing scholar. They, according to sources are said to be cooperating with the police.
“We condemn this fake news and action against those news organs and channels, which circulated the fake news”, they said.
They appealed Lt Governor G C Murmu and security agencies, to help them to trace their missing son Hilal Basit, who is said to be a Ph.D. scholar.
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