Kupwara: Three months after PhD scholar Manan Wani announced his joining militant ranks, a photo of another youth from Lolab, Bilal Ahmad Shah, wielding an assault rifle, has gone viral on social media.
Bilal is a resident of Shartmuqam Lolab and his code written in the photo, uploaded on the social media, is Shahbaz.
Bilal’s father, Shams-u-Din was killed in 1992 when he was only two years of age. He was member of Hizbul Mujahideen, the family members told this correspondent.
“At around 11 a.m. today we came to know about the photo of Bilal doing rounds on social media and claiming he has joined Hizbul Mujahideen,” they said.
The family claimed that Bilal was tortured many a times by government forces and in the month of Ramadan he was held for about a month. “Even Bilal was not allowed to join family on the special day of EID.”
Bilal has several FIRs registered against him in native police station in 2016 when Valley held protest demonstrations including Shrathmuqam.
“We urge state government and security agencies to take back all the FIRs lodged against Bilal that may make a way for his comeback,” they said.
Bilal’s family comprises of his elder brother Tariq Ahmad and a sister, both married.
After watching a photo of Bilal holding AK47 , the family said: “we aren’t sure about his joining any militancy group but on the other end Bilal was mentally disturbed person and was continuously being picked by forces personnel .”
Bilal was enrolled at orphanage in Srinagar and he studied up to 10th standard. Later due to financial problems back home, Bilal had to quit studies and earn to feed the family.
A Police officer said that it would be premature to confirm whether Bilal has actually joined the militant ranks. “It could be morphed picture but we are ascertaining,” the officer said.
