A distressed mother, shocked father and an inconsolable sister on Saturday urged missing Sharda University student Ehtesham Bilal to shun militancy and return home, a day after his purported photograph posing as IS militant surfaced on social media.
Ehtesham, a resident of Khanyar area of downtown Srinagar, went missing on Sunday (October 28) from his hostel at Sharda University in Greater Noida, nearly a month after he was assaulted duiring a group clash at the varsity between Indian and Afghani students.
On Friday evening, a gun-wielding picture of Ehtesham along with a purported audio message surfaced on social media which immediately went viral.
In the purported audio message, Ehtesham pledged allegiance to Islamic State, a group police claim hardly has any presence in the state.
While the Jammu and Kashmir police Chief Dilbag Singh said they were verifying the authenticity of the audio clip, the anxious family tried to reach Ehtesham through the media.
A “shocked” father, Bilal Ahmad made a fervent appeal to the “militant group” to let Ehtesham return to his parents as he was “young and naive”.
“I have heard your audio message. I am worried and shocked. You talk about Islam and Iman but you forget that the heaven, according to Islam, lies under the feet of mother, and father is the door to heaven,” said Bilal while addressing his son. “Islam warns against disobedience to your parents”.
“I order you and also make a humble request to you to return to your family, especially your mother who is ailing. She hasn’t eaten anything since you went missing. I am also a heart patient,” he said.
In his plea to the militants, Bilal said: “My son is young and naive. For God’s sake send him home. Have mercy on us, Allah will bless you. This is an appeal from a helpless father.”
Ehtesham’s young sister, Hadiqa is inconsolable since he went missing. “What will mother do [in your absence],” she says while appealing her brother with folded hands to come home.
Sumaira, an aunt of Ehtesham, invoked the return of footballer-turned-militant Majid Khan of southern Anantnag district last year to appeal for his safe passage.
“For God sake send him home. You have sent home many boys who were lone sons among their families. In the same way send Ehtesham home,” she said, in her plea to the militants.
Khan, who had joined LeT outfit, had returned home following an appeal by his family.
LeT chief Mahmood Shah had said that Khan was “permitted” to leave on the request of his mother.