Sumlar (Bandipora), Nov 20: Eighty-six-year old Kalam-u-Din Bajard is searching his two sons, who were picked up by a group of masked men in March 1999 at a nearby forest area here, without their photographs. 
 “I didn’t have any photographs of Farooq (36) and Latief (23) both labourers, which created many difficulties for me while conducting searches for them,” Bajard told Greater Kashmir adding the whereabouts of Farooq and Latief were still unknown.
 Unable to move properly, Kalam-u-Din Bajard sits near the window looking over the forest wherefrom his two sons were picked by the masked men.
 Over the years, while moving from pillar to post to ascertain the whereabouts of his sons, Bajard has developed ophthalmic and orthopedic ailments.
 Recalling the incident, Bajard said, “We tried to snatch the duo from kidnappers, but they thrashed us and forcibly took them away. They are missing since then,” Bajard said.
 “Bajard’s sons were innocent and hardworking,” said Nazir Ahmed, Bajard’s neighbour, adding, “Their father became the victim of administrative and police indifference who only wasted his time without helping him to ascertain the whereabouts of his sons as he failed to grease their palms.”
 “I remember them by kissing their clothes which they wore in front of me a day before their abduction and subsequent disappearance,” Bajard said.
 “My life is useless as my sons have been snatched from me,” Bajard said. “I approached every officer to help me trace my sons, but all in vain as I am poor and failed to grease their palms,” he said, adding, “Official apathy compelled me to indulge in begging which I had never even thought of.”
 Bajard said the local police station didn’t filed any compliant or FIR as they also sought a photograph of his sons. “I have never been helped by anybody expect local Auqaf Committee. Even the department of Social Welfare didn’t help me as they also sought picture of my sons,” he said.
 “There is no one to earn for the family now. He was forced to beg, but keeping in view his deteriorating health, local Auqaf Committee is looking after his needs and he always remains sitting on the window looking towards forests and waiting for his disappeared sons to return,” said Muhammad Ramzan who is deputed by Auqaf to look after Bajard.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST