by Syed Samreen
SRINAGAR: The family members and relatives of a missing PhD scholar Hilal Abdul Basit on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration at Press Enclave here in Lalchowk to seek his whereabouts.
Family-members-of-a-Phd-Scholar-who-went-missing-while-on-trekking-a-few-days-ago-stage-a-silent-protest-in-press-colony-Srinagar-demanding-whereabouts-of-their-son. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
The protesters, including family members of a scholar, who has gone missing during Gangbal trekking since June 15, raised pro-justice slogans and demanded immediate recovery of the missing youth.
The family members said Hilal was part of a five-member group of friends who had gone trekking the Gangbal trek. On June 15, while negotiating an ascent, according to reports, he felt fatigued and told the group that they should move ahead and he will wait for their return.
However, when the group returned, they found him missing. They looked around but could not trace him and finally they informed the family and the government. This is what his friends have told the family and eventually the police.
The official mountaineering hiking association lacked any knowledge of the particular group’s adventure. However, they have joined the rescue efforts. They found his scooty parked at Naranag.
The relatives of the orphan appealed the authorities to hold an investigation into the matter.
Since three days, there are no whereabouts of him. The family is in extreme distress. “I wonder where my efficient and bright nephew went. I’m in a state of shock. I can’t decipher where he can be right now. He had seen a lot of miseries in life, lost both his parents and now we lost him. We pray that he comes back soon,” Hilal’s aunt said.
Hilal’s uncle while talking to reporters said, “We urge the authorities to look into the matter immediately. I want my nephew back; we are waiting to see him once again.”
Bemina Trekker Still Untraced, Others Being Investigated By Police
Mahmood Ahmad Shah, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Mountaineers and Hiking Club (JKMHC) told Kashmir Life, “We sent eight members of our group to supplement the efforts of the district administration. The search group comprises of around 18 local residents, eight members of our club, a police party and the missing trekker’s brother.”
