Shopian teen abducted, shot dead by militants

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, November 16

A teenage boy, who was abducted by unidentified militants from his home in Shopian district around 5 pm on Thursday, was found shot dead in the neighbouring Pulwama district on Thursday night.

The slain has been identified as Nadeem Manzoor Dar, 18, a resident of Safnagri village in Shopian. He had recently appeared in Class XII examinations. “The militants came to his house twice during the day but he escaped. He returned in the evening and so did the militants and nabbed him this time,” said a local source. While the police were still looking for clues regarding his whereabouts, gunshots created panic in Nikloora village of Pulwama around 9 pm on Thursday. “Some locals informed the police that a body was lying in the area. A police team was soon dispatched to the spot,” a senior police officer said.

“The body was retrieved and sent for identification and the medico-legal process,” the officer said. He said the body had several bullet wounds. “We have lodged a case and investigation is going on to nab the culprits,” the police officer said. The body of the slain teenager was handed over to his family on Thursday night.

Ultras release video 

Militants on Friday evening released a video of the killing of the Shopian teenager. In the viral video, the terrified 18-year-old is sitting with his back towards the militants. They ask him to speak up and at the same time, promise him that they will not kill him. As the teenager, Nadeem Manzoor, apologises for unknown reasons, the militants, who are not seen in the video, ask, “What had our Abrar and Soban done to you?” They, however, do not wait for his answer and shoot him multiple times. This is the first time the militants have released such a video. The police said the veracity of the video was being ascertained.