Families of arrested youths appeal to two Prime Ministers to release their sons

The families of the two youths arrested in Gilgit in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have appealed to the Prime Ministers of both countries to release their sons on humanitarian grounds. Missing for two years, the two men were seen in a video posted by the Pakistan Army, showing the duo in police custody in Gilgit, Pak.

Bandipora (J&K):The families of two youths belonging to Gurez area of ​​Bandipora district of North Kashmir, who were arrested in Pakistan on Saturday on charges of espionage, have appealed to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to release their sons. Denying the charges of espionage, the families said, "The allegations against our sons are baseless, they can never be spies," appealing to both PMs to release their sons on humanitarian grounds.

On Friday, Pakistani media reports, quoting the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Gilgit, claimed that police in the area had arrested two residents of the Kashmir Valley in their area on suspicion of "espionage".

The Pakistan Army released a video yesterday in which two Kashmiri youths Feroz Ahmed Lone son of Abdul Rahim Lone and Noor Mohammad Wani son of Mushtaq Ahmed Wani, both residents of Achoora, Gurez, Bandipora were seen. The duo appeared to be admitting that they were sent to Pakistan by the Indian government to spy.

In a video appeal, Feroz's father, Abdul Rahim Lone, 29, said his son had gone missing in 2018 and had lodged a missing person's report with the relevant police station. "Yesterday I came to know that he has been arrested by the Pakistan Army on charges of espionage and working in Indian agencies. I want to say that my son is not a spy and he should be released on humanitarian grounds." Lone appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan to release his son and other youths on humanitarian grounds.

Another youngster Noor Mohammad Wani's uncle, Bashir Ahmad Wani, said he had to adopt his nephew 20 years ago after his parents died. "My nephew was working in the fields and earning his living as a labourer. Since 2015, he would go out of his house for a day job and come back after a week and sometimes even a month and more." He said in a video message, appealing for the release of both his nephew and another youth Feroz.

Bashir said his nephew had to drop out of middle school to earn a living.

"Yesterday, I was shocked to see him in a video with another youth Feroz, surrounded by the Pakistani army, saying that he had been sent to Pakistan by the Indian government to spy."

"My nephew has been forced to make such a statement," Bashir said. "My nephew does not know the meaning of a spy. Both have not been involved in any anti-national activities so far. I didn't even report my nephew missing because I thought maybe he was working somewhere to earn some money."

Bashir urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to release the two youths on humanitarian grounds without any delay.

"We hope that the Pakistani government will accept our appeal and release the two youths immediately," Bashir said.