Kupwara family appeals to militant to shun the gun

Our Correspondent

Kupwara, March 16

Family and relatives of a youth from Kupwara district, who reportedly joined Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) two days ago, today appealed to him to shun violence and return home.

A picture of Bilal Ahmad Shah, 28, from Shatmuqam village holding an assault AK-47 rifle went viral on social media recently, triggering panic among his family members and relatives.

A description along with a picture of Bilal, codenamed Shahbaz, announced his joining the HM, the largest and oldest militant group in Kashmir. Orphaned at an early age, Bilal was a supplier at the fruit mandi in Srinagar for the past few years.

“We are shocked to know that he has joined militant ranks. I make a fervent appeal to him to shun the wrong path and come back home,” said Tariq Ahmad, his elder brother.

“We were satisfied that he earned a living for himself. He also helped his married sister whenever she was in need. His step has devastated us,” he said.

Bilal left home on March 2, telling his brother that he would go to Ladakh if the road was open. He didn’t come back.

He discontinued his studies after passing Class X from an orphanage in Srinagar, his family said. His joining militant ranks come three months after Manwan Wani, a research scholar from Lolab, joined the HM. Shams-u-din Shah, Bilal’s father, was an HM militant and was killed in an encounter in Kupwara in 1992.