Tucked away atop a hillock, a single-storeyed house in Kashmir's Qazipora village appears difficult to access, but it was the centre of attraction on Saturday following an attempt by terrorists to abduct a soldier. Rifleman Mohammad Yasin Bhat had come home on leave on Friday when the terrorists made an abortive bid to abduct him.
While his family members rushed to try and save Bhat, a melee ensued, and the soldier displayed typical courage to jump from his house to safety. By then, however, seeing that Bhat was missing, his family informed the police. Security forces immediate reached the spot and started looking for Bhat.
Several hours later, deep into the night, Bhat returned home, much to his family's relief. Sensing trouble, he also reported to the Army unit.
"I couldn't make out what had happened. A person entered the house and there was chaos. I went out to the verandah and started shouting. I didn't see my son after that, but he spoke to me over the phone this morning," said Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, the soldier's father.
The Ministry of Defence also denied reports that Bhat had been abducted. "Clarification. Media reports of the abduction of a serving Army soldier on leave from Qazipora, Chadoora, Budgam are incorrect. Individual is safe. Speculations may please be avoided," tweeted a defence spokesperson.
Bhat had joined the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) in 2015. Currently posted in Uttarakhand, he had come home on leave on February 25. "He was to be here for 10-15 days," Ghulam said.
This also marks the first time in two years that a soldier has survived an abduction attempt in Kashmir. On June 14 last year, 24-year-old son rifleman Aurangzeb of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was abducted and killed in Pulwama district while he was on his way home to celebrate Eid. Earlier on May 10 last year, terrorists abducted 22-year-old Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz of Rajputana Rifles from Shopian, took him to the neighbouring Harmain village and shot him dead.
On September 27, 2017, terrorists stormed BSF jawan Mohommad Ramzan Parrey aka Rameez's house in Hajin, and fired indiscriminately, killing him and injuring three members of his family. And on November 25, 2017, an Army soldier on leave, Sepoy Irfan Ahmad Dar of 175 Territorial Army (Engineers), was killed in Shopian.