Bemina family refutes police claim, seeks help in tracing son

SRINAGAR — After police claim that missing Phd scholar from Bemina area of Srinagar city has joined militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, his family says there is no reason to believe the claim made by Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone.

“We know him better than anyone and he won’t join any militant outfit. Instead of adding to our woes, police including Army should help us in tracing him,” family members said.

Basit Hilal who had gone, along with his friends to Naranag area of central Kashmir last week, for trekking went missing. His family is seeking his whereabouts and had even staged a protest in Srinagar.

“Basit can’t join Hizb or any other militant organization. His mother faced lot of hardships on his education. Police should check his testimonials. He is a bright guy. How can I trust police claim when I know him better than anyone,” maternal Aunt of Basit said.

She claimed that Basit had planned either to leave Kashmir or join Indian Air Force. “He wanted to go to Canada and now we are being told that he has joined militancy. I refute this claim outrightly,” she said.

“If police really want to help us, then please trace his call records and check his WhatsApp. We sincerely appeal to IGP to help us in tracing him. He has only one brother, no parents and that brother will die, if he is not traced and brought to home,” she said.

Basit, according to his family, was working in New Delhi and had recently arrived Kashmir after the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. He has done his Phd at Kashmir University.

The sister-in-law of missing guy appealed Lieutenant Governor, Rohit Kansal, Police Chief and IGP Kashmir to help them in locating him and bring him to home.