Tufail Qadir ‘Militant for a week’ returns home

J&K police on Thursday said a Srinagar boy, who had reportedly joined the militant ranks, has returned home safely and is with his family.
Tufail Qadir Mir, 19, had gone missing on May 24 and then surfaced in a video on Facebook wherein he was seen wielding a gun, sending the entire security apparatus in Srinagar into a tizzy.
Tufail, according to police, is 34th youth who has returned home in Kashmir after joining the militant ranks, since September last year.
“He (Tufail) is back and is with his family now,” deputy inspector general of police (Central Kashmir range), Ghulam Hassan Bhat told reporters at a news conference here. Bhat was flanked by senior superintendent of police Srinagar Imtiyaz Hussain.
Tufail, a BA 1st year student at degree college Bemina, was reportedly detained by police in a case registered during protests that followed the killing of popular Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July last year.
Asked whether Tufail surrendered or was arrested, DIG Bhat said: “Why should we tell you how he returned.”
Asked who had motivated Tufail to join militancy, the DIG said those “motivating others had lured him also.”
Talking to Kashmir Post, director general of police S.P. Vaid said police had contacted Tufail’s family and urged them persuade their son to return. “His family succeeded finally and we are happy,” Vaid said.
He said in similar efforts initiated by police after reports of local youth joining the militant ranks last year, 34 youth including Tufail have returned to their homes to “live a peaceful life.”
“We have not stopped our efforts and our endeavour is to bring local boys, who have joined militant ranks, back to their families,” the DGP said.
Police sources said: “He (Tufail) was provided quality counselling after his return and is happily living with his family now.”
“He spoke about the reasons that prompted him to flee from his home and we have taken care of his concerns. He is an intelligent student and wants to pursue his career further,” they said.
Police sources said Srinagar is “so far militancy-free.”
“Militants come to Srinagar for a shorter span of time and then leave. We have no input about any further Srinagar youth having joined the militant ranks,” they said.

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