Disappearance of 2 sons leaves father at others’ mercy
Mir TariqSumlar (Bandipora), Nov 26: Unable to move properly, 86-year-old, Kalm-u-din Bajard of Sumlar, Bandipora remains sitting near the window of his house overlooking the nearby forests where his two sons were taken after being picked up from their home in March 1999 by a group of masked men in uniform. They are missing since then.Bajard’s two sons Farooq, 36, and Latief, 23, were both labourers.Over the years, while moving from pillar to post to ascertain the whereabouts of his sons, Bajard developed ophthalmic and orthopaedic ailments. Recalling the incident, Bajard said, "We tried to snatch them from kidnappers, but they beat us and forcibly took them with themselves. They are missing since then," said Bajard, adding, "I even didn't have any photograph of my sons which created so many difficulties for me while I searched for them.”“Bajard's sons were innocent and hardworking," said Nazir Ahmed, Bajard’s neighbour, adding, "Their father became the victim of administrative and police tyranny who only wasted his time without doing any help to ascertain the whereabouts of his sons as he failed to grease their palms."Without any photograph, Bajard is imagining his sons in clothes which he had bought for them just a day before their disappearance.“I remember them by kissing their clothes which they wore in front of me a day before their abduction and disappearance.""My life is useless as my sons have been snatched from me," said Bajard amid sobs."I approached every office and officer to help me trace my missing sons but all in vain as I am poor and failed to grease their palms,” he said, adding, "Official apathy compelled me to indulge in begging which I had never even thought of."Bajard said the local police station didn't lodge any compliant or FIR as they also sought a photograph of his sons"I have never been helped by anybody expect local Auqaf Committee. Even the department of Social Welfare didn’t help me as they also sought picture of my sons," he said."There is no one to earn for his family now. He was forced to beg, but keeping in view his deteriorating health, local Auqaf Committee is looking after his needs and he always remains sitting on the window looking towards forests and waiting for his disappeared sons to return," said Muhammad Ramzan who is deputed by Auqaf to look for him.

Fierce gunfight on in Sumlar
3 militants killed, 3 houses gutted
Mir TariqBandipora, Nov 27: Three militants were killed and three houses damaged in a fierce gunfight at Sumlar area in this newly created district, which went to polls in the first phase on November 19.Police sources said on specific information 14 RR and police personnel laid siege around Sheikh Baba area in Sumlar on Wednesday evening. “At around 11 pm, the militants hiding in the area fired from sophisticated weapons towards the soldiers, who had earlier asked to surrender and lay down the weapons. The troopers took defensive positions and returned the fire,” they said.The sources said that heavy exchange of fire between the holed-up militants and the troopers continued throughout the night. “Additional troops were rushed to the area in the day and they tightened the siege around the area to prevent militants from escaping from the area,” they said.Three militants were killed in the gunfight, which continued till 6 pm. “At 6 pm the operation was suspended and will be resumed early Friday morning,” SP Bandipora, Sheikh Junaid told Rising Kashmir. Police sources said that three residential houses and two cowsheds were damaged during the exchange of fire. “The houses belonged to Latif Khan, Bashir Khan and Qasim Khan. More than 30 cattle have died in the gunfight,” they said.The residents said that army used heavy mortar shells to overcome the resistance offered by militants during the gunfight. “This was one of the longest gunfights in the area in the 20 year old turmoil,” they said.A top official of Army’s 8 mountain brigade told Rising Kashmir that three militants have been killed so far. “We have so far shot dead three militants but we don’t know the exact number of militants present in the area. The operation, which was suspended after the sunset, will be resumed in the wee hours of Friday,” he said. He said that the identity of the slain militants and the outfit to which they owe allegiance could not be ascertained yet.