KIN OF ABDUCTED TA JAWAN APPEAL FOR HIS RELEASE

The parents of a Territorial Army jawan who was abducted by suspected militants from a remote village of Jammu and Kashmir’s southern Kulgam district a day ago while making an appeal for his release said on Monday that they needed him the most “to stay alive”.

The soldier Shakir Manzoor was reportedly abducted by gunmen after they intercepted his car while he was travelling through Damhal Hanjipora, a militancy-infected area of Kulgam, on Sunday evening.

Before taking him along forcibly, the suspected militants reportedly torched his vehicle, the police sources here said.

The police said a massive search operation was soon launched in the area to secure the release of Mr. Shakir who is a resident of Harmain village of neighbouring Shopian district.

The police also said that he was on leave and was heading home for Id when his car was intercepted by gunmen.

Mr. Shakir’s parents while making a passionate appeal to his captors said that he has to take care of his four sisters and them.

“We appeal to the abductors to please forgive him if he has committed a mistake and let him go for the sake of God. He is needed by us to stay alive,” his father told reporters.

He added, “We learnt that his vehicle was burnt and when we reached the spot we only found the damaged car, but no trace of him.”

One of his sisters said, “We appeal to the abductors to please let him go. We don’t need anything, we have everything. Just let our brother go and return to us. He is needed by his aged parents and us. We don’t need this job. We just need our brother.”