“Come back my son, come back for my sake,” mother of 22-year-old commerce graduate cried endlessly, minutes after Danish Haneef Wani’s picture surfaced on social media, posing with a rifle.
A resident of uptown Natipora Danish went missing on December 30 last year. After searching for him for past three days the family finally lodged a missing complaint at police station Chanapora.
A family member of Danish said he was working at a local shop for past five months after completing his studies. He described Danish as a practicing Muslim who had performed Umrah in February 2018.
“He never participated in any protest,” said Shoaib, younger brother of Danish. “My brother is a thorough gentleman. He would always wear a smile on his face.”
Son of a government employee, Danish left his home on December 30 to offer afternoon prayers, but didn’t return. “We were surprised to see his photograph in which he is holding a gun and copy of Holy Quran in his hands,” said Shoaib. The purported picture reads that Danish has joined Lashkar-e-Toiba on 8 January, 2018 and his nom de guerre is Abu Duhjajna.
Ever since the picture surfaced on social media Danish’s parents have been crying helplessly for safe return of their son. “I appeal to my son to come back…come back for your mother,” she made a passionate appeal to her son, eyes welling with tears. I have developed heart problems. I am not able to eat, drink or sleep…I want to see my son.”
A police official said they were verifying authenticity of the photograph. “If it is true we will try to get him back,” the official said.
Last year J&K police succeeded in bringing back a B.Tech student Ehtesham Bilal of Khanyar who had allegedly joined Islamic State.