New Delhi: An off-duty soldier who went missing on Saturday has returned to his home in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Rifleman Abid Bhat had left his residence in Chittergul, Anantnag, to report for duty at Rangreth on Saturday but failed to arrive at the camp by Sunday morning.
As a result, a missing persons report was filed with the police. The soldier returned home on Sunday evening, and authorities said that he is currently being questioned about his whereabouts since Saturday. The defence PRO in Srinagar is yet to comment on the matter.
TA soldier killed
In October last year, an Army soldier, who was kidnapped by terrorists in the Pathribal forest area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir, was found dead with bullet wounds on his body. His colleague, who also suffered bullet injuries, managed to escape.
According to police sources, the two soldiers from the 161 unit of the Territorial Army were abducted by militants during a joint anti-terror operation conducted by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police on October 8. While one soldier survived despite two bullet wounds, the body of the other, identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat, was found in the Pathribal forest area.
The injured soldier was immediately taken to a medical facility, and his condition is reported to be stable. The news of Bhat’s death brought sorrow to Nowgam village in Anantnag. He left behind his wife, a 5-year-old son named Azaan, and an infant daughter.
