Srinagar: A youth from Srinagar district, who had gone missing three days ago, has reportedly joined militant ranks. An audio message that went viral on social media on Thursday evening has announced his purported move.
Irfan Ahmad Sofi, son of Nazir Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Natipora area of Srinagar, went missing along with another local, Bilal Manzoor, son of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, on December 14 — the day suspected militants shot dead a Personal Security Officer (PSO) of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in the same area.
Irfan’s father had said that his only son was a driver by profession who left home in the afternoon, telling the family that he will be back. “However, repeated attempts to contact him failed as his phone remained switched off.”
He further stated that his son used to sit in Masjid till late evening but on December 14, he did not return home and has been missing since then.
A missing report was lodged at Police Post Chanapora in the case and the parents had appealed their sons to return, requesting the authorities to help them in their search.
However, on Thursday evening, an audio message went viral on social media, announcing Irfan’s joining the militant ranks.
In the audio message, he can be heard reaching out to his parents, telling them “not to search for him as he has chosen the way of Allah and is safe”.
Meanwhile, KDC quoted an unnamed police official as saying that they are verifying the authenticity of the audio.
Pertinently, there is no clue yet about the second missing youth.
