The body of a 28-year-old labourer from South Kashmir’s Kokernag area, who had been missing since September, was brought to his native village on Monday, triggering protests by family members and locals demanding a thorough investigation into his death.
Aijaz Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Majeed Dar and a resident of Darpora village in Hallpora, Gadool, had left home in search of work. His family has alleged that he was murdered and demanded that those responsible be identified and arrested.
According to officials quoted by news agencies KNO and GNS, a missing person report was lodged on September 26.
Dar’s family said he had travelled to Srinagar around 20 days before his body was recovered and stayed there for about 10 days before moving to Ludhiana in Punjab for employment.
A family member told KNO that they remained in contact with Dar for nearly a week after he left home, but his phone subsequently became unreachable.
“We were in regular contact with him for nearly a week. After that, his phone was switched off, and we could not establish contact with him despite our efforts,” the family member said.
The family said they had continued searching for information about his whereabouts and hoped he would return safely.
“He had left home to earn a living, but we never imagined that he would never return alive. We want to know what happened to him and how he died. Our family deserves answers, and the truth must come out,” another relative said.
Family Demands Impartial Investigation
On October 17, family members and locals staged a protest in Hallpora over Dar’s disappearance, expressing concern for his safety and demanding urgent efforts to trace him. The protest ended peacefully after police officials intervened and assured them of action.
On Monday, after his body arrived in the village, the family and residents gathered outside Police Station Kokernag, alleging murder and demanding a transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death.
“We are demanding a proper and impartial investigation into his death. If he was killed, those responsible must be identified and arrested without delay,” a family member told KNO.
The protesters also appealed to senior authorities to intervene and ensure that all possible angles were examined.
A police officer told KNO that authorities had assured the family and protesters that the case would be investigated fairly and that necessary steps would be taken to establish the facts.
The protesters dispersed peacefully following the assurance from police.
