NC urges J&K govt to locate 3 missing youths from Kupwara

National Conference (NC) today demanded that the Jammu and Kashmir government should locate the three missing persons from Kupwara allegedly abducted by a territorial army personnel, saying such incidents add to the "sense of despondency and anxiety" in the Valley.
"We demand that the state government should ascertain the whereabouts of the three missing youths from Kupwara without any further delay. The apprehension of an enforced disappearance, as voiced by their families, is serious and worrisome," NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said.
Ghulam Jeelani Khatana (42), Mir Hussain Khatana (45) and Ali Muhammad Sheikh (40), all residents of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, have been reported missing since November 17 when they had left home reportedly to work as porters with the Army.

Wani said the families have repeatedly implored the state government to act and help them locate the youths but to no avail.
"Dejected by the callousness and insensitivity of the state government, the families successfully moved the court and this has resulted in the arrest of an individual from the Territorial Army for due investigation into this grave matter.
"We appreciate the action of the court and express our solidarity with the families in these moments of uncertainty," he said.

"These incidents add to the sense of despondency and anxiety in the Valley and the insensitivity of the state government in even acknowledging the seriousness of this issue is extremely tragic and condemnable.

"This matter should be thoroughly probed and the truth must be made public. The responsibility for this lies with the Chief Minister and his government," he said.
A Territorial Army personnel was yesterday arrested and sent to two-day police custody by a local court in the district for his alleged role in abduction of the three persons.
Army man Manzoor Ahmad Khwaja, accused of abducting the three men, has been sent to police custody till December 11.