Srinagar, Oct 13: Almost half of the 84 youths alleged to be missing in Jammu and Kashmir after the PDP-led coalition government came to power in the state were found to be "leading a normal life in their homes", an official spokesman said today. "Investigations have found that 37 youths alleged to be missing were leading a normal life in their homes while 16 have joined militancy," he said. Five among those who joined ultras were killed in militancy related violence. The state police had initiated investigations into the missing cases after an organisation founded by the parents of the disappeared persons alleged that 84 youths have been missing in the state since the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government assumed office, the spokesman told reporters here. Names and addresses of at least 10 persons in the list of disappeared do not exist in the villages mentioned in the list, he said. In seven other cases, local police have taken cognizance and registered cases.
The spokesman said investigation in respect of 14 other disappeared youths was in progress. One of them is missing since 1992 while four are claimed to have been taken away by the security forces.
Bureau Report