Family of Missing Kashmiri Man Appeals for International Help

For over three decades, the family of Sirajud Din Farooqui has endured uncertainty and pain after his mysterious disappearance in Indian custody, appealing for global intervention to end their suffering and uncover the truth.

The family of Sirajud Din Farooqui, who disappeared in the custody of Indian forces in 1992, is still searching for answers after more than 30 years of uncertainty. Farooqui, a resident of Nowhatta, Srinagar, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) was arrested by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) during a crackdown operation on January 22, 1992. Originally from Safa Kadal, he had been visiting his in-laws when he was taken into custody. Since that fateful day, the family has been left in the dark about his fate—whether he is alive or dead.

Farooqui’s brother-in-law, Fayaz Ahmad Zargar, expressed the family’s torment, saying, “We don’t know whether he is dead or alive. We’ve been waiting for his return for the past 30 years.” Despite their tireless efforts to locate him, they have received no information about his whereabouts. The disappearance has left a permanent void in the family, with no closure or justice in sight.

The pain of loss has been compounded by ongoing harassment. In 2017, Farooqui’s son, Adil Siraj, and another relative, Dawood Fayaz, were arrested on fabricated charges. They remain imprisoned, adding to the burden of an already suffering family. “Since 2008, Indian police have harassed the family,” said a relative, calling for international intervention to stop the injustices they continue to endure.

In their desperate plea for justice, the family has turned to international human rights organizations. They have appealed to global bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to step in and help end their suffering. They seek to uncover the truth behind Farooqui’s disappearance and ensure that no more families suffer the same fate.

Leaders from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in Srinagar have also raised their voices in support of Farooqui’s family. They have called on the international community to investigate the ongoing issue of custodial disappearances and other human rights violations in IIOJK. These leaders criticized Indian authorities for withholding information about the whereabouts of missing individuals like Farooqui, urging a thorough investigation into the matter.

The family’s ordeal highlights the broader issue of enforced disappearances and human rights abuses in the region. Farooqui’s disappearance is just one case among many, but it has become a symbol of the pain felt by countless families in IIOJK. As the years pass, the hope for justice remains, but so does the agony of not knowing the truth.

The international community’s failure to intervene or hold Indian authorities accountable has only deepened the family’s anguish. However, the call for justice continues to echo, as they strive for closure and the truth behind Farooqui’s disappearance.