EARTH NEWS SERVICE Srinagar, Dec 15 |15: Amid anti-establishment slogans, the locals in frontier district Kupwara staged a massive protest against the disappearances of three civilians from Dardpora Kralpora on Tuesday. All the shops and business establishment remained shut while protesters blocked vehicular movement on roads in Thregam area prompting police to rush to the spot. Pertinently, the family members of the missing persons had filed a petition in the court of Judicial Magistrate Kupwara in which they alleged that Ghulam Jeelani Khatana and Mir Hussain Khatana-residents of Dardepora Kupwara, and Ali Muhammad Sheikh of Trehgam Kupwara are untraceable since November 17 after they were taken along by Manzoor Ahmad Khoja of 160 TA Battalion. In compliance with the court directions, police had arrested the accused soldier allegedly responsible for the abduction of the trio and currently he is in police remand. The protesters alleged despite the accused being in police remand from past week, no progress has been made to trace the missing persons. They alleged that investigation into the matter has been going on at snail’s pace. The protesters blocked the road resulting in the complete shutdown in the town. “It was Manzoor who took my father and two other persons. Police should interrogate him to know the whereabouts of the missing persons. Police have gone soft on accused as he is working for Army,” the son of Ghulam Jeelani told.
