Only a few days back, I encountered this old man after a gap of around 5 years at State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). He was agitated and yelled at me in Kashmiri Che Trouthass ba Kunuo-zounn (you left me all alone). I couldn’t believe 86 year old Abdul Ahad Rah from Maharaj Gunj area of Srinagar’s old city is still struggling and has not given up. I along with my friends had been followed his case way back in 2009-2010 and until 2013 we tried our level best to help him locate his sons. There was a long lull in between. I lost contact number of this brave old man. Sometimes I thought Abdul Ahad would be no more in this world. It was such a cheerful moment for me when I met this man after so many years. When we came out of SHRC Srinagar, it was clearly visible from this old man’s face that he hasn’t lost the hope. He is still optimistic and confidant.
19 year long ordeal
In connection with Indian Airlines plane hijacking around 27 Kashmiri youth working in Nepal were taken into custody by Nepal Police on the instruction of Indian authorities during a raid on the intervening night of 27th -28th August 2000. Among these were Abdul Ahad Rah’s two sons, namely Mohammad Shafi Rah, 30, and Mushtaq Ahmad Rah, 28. Both the brothers were running leather business in Samkoshi Kathmandu. After a few days, out of 27 persons, 17 persons were handed over to Indian authorities in Kathmandu. They were airlifted to New Delhi. Rest of the arrested persons were set free. Pertinently local English daily Kathmandu Post had carried a detailed report about the raid. The report according to Rah family clearly mentioned names of Mohammad Shafi Rah and Mushtaq Ahmad Rah among the 27 arrested Kashmiris. From the day of their arrest till date the whereabouts of the young men are not known. Nobody knows who were other arrested persons? Other than Shafi and Mushtaq, Abdul Ahad only recalls that 3rd person was from Kani Mazar, Srinagar. Old father started search for his missing sons in September 2000 and after 2 years (April 2002) he got a clue that his sons were lodged in Jodhpur jail. Father, along with other members of the family went to Jodhpur around 13th April 2002. The Jailor according to Rah admitted that both the brothers were lodged in his jail. He didn’t allow Rah to meet his sons and instead asked him to get an affidavit attested by a magistrate from Srinagar court. Old man came back to Srinagar and got the affidavit. After a week or so, the family again reached Jodhpur in the scorching heat. Father was now hopeful that he could see his sons Shafi and Mushtaq after a gap of 18 months. But when Rah went to meet the Jailor all his dreams got shattered. The jail officer categorically denied to facilitate the meeting. Rah was told that intelligence agencies from New Delhi have given clear directions to Jodhpur jail authorities not to allow detained persons to meet their relatives.The local CID cell pressurized Rah and his family to leave Jodhpur city and threatened them they would be arrested or booked in some terrorist case. Abdul Ahmad Rah along with his family had to leave Jodhpur, completely disheartened and discouraged. Rah didn’t stop and never lost hope.
Conclusion
Shafi and Mushtaq are still listed as voters with Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). Only a few weeks back during municipal elections, SMC official from local ward office dropped the voter slips of whole family at Rah’s home. Are Shafi and Mushtaq still alive? If yes, where are they? If they have been killed, let the family be informed? This is not only the case of Shafi or Mushtaq, but there are more than 3000 such people in Kashmir who are missing in custody of forces from 1990 onwards. Will Govt of India ever give justice to such families? Will the accused security agencies be tried? If Shafi and Mushtaq were involved in some “terrorist” act, why were they not tried? If 3000 missing persons were also involved in terrorist acts, why were they not tried, jailed or hanged? How can a country, that talks high of democratic tradition, and is the fastest growing economy of world, have such a worst human rights record ? From last 19 years Abdul Ahad Rah has not lost hope. He suffers from multiple ailments, but still keeps moving. When I spoke to him few days back, I could not find even an iota of pessimism in him. It seems as if he lost his sons only a few days or few weeks back. He is so hopeful and expects his sons will come back. In-fact he has given me a hope – to strive and struggle.