Photo-journalist goes missing in Anantnag

BIJBEHARA — A photo-journalist from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has gone missing since Friday last, forcing his family to appeal the administration for help in tracing their son.

Rayees Ahmad Bhat (23), son of Abdul Hameed Bhat, a BA pass-out and a resident of Veeri area in Bijbehara hamlet of Anantnag district left his home on Friday evening and didn’t return.

“Our son left home for gym centre where he used to go on a daily basis on his motorcycle, however, when he left he said he will go somewhere for a night and will return home on the next day,” a family member of Rayees said.

He said that when they tried to contact Rayees on Saturday morning, his phone was coming in switched off mode.

“We contacted all his friends, all relatives, neighbours but couldn’t get any clue about him,” the family member said.

Another family member of Rayees said that they have filed a missing complaint at Police Station Bijbehara.

Rayees owned a news portal “Valley News Service” and was working as a photo-journalist for the same. He was also working at a gas agency in Anantnag town.

Now the distressed family has appealed the police and civil administration besides general public to help them bring back their son.

A police official, while confirming that Rayees’s missing report has been filed, said that the investigation in this regard has been set into motion and efforts are on to trace him. “It will be premature to say whether there is any militant link,” he said.