J&K: Body of missing soldier traced after one year

The decomposed body of Shakir Manzoor Wagey, a soldier was found on Wednesday morning from south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Wagey was missing since August 2, 2020.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): After over one year, the decomposed body of Shakir Manzoor Wagey, a soldier was found on Wednesday morning from south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Wagey, 24-year-old rifleman of 162 Battalion of Territorial Army, was missing since August 2, 2020.

"The body of Shakir Manzoor Wagey who was a rifleman of 162 Battalion of Territorial Army has been recovered today morning. He was missing since August 2, last year," a senior police official said.

The police officer also said that Wagey was driving back in his car to a nearby army camp, after which he went missing. He was returning from his residence in Shopian after Eid celebration. The following day his burnt car was found in the neighbouring Kulgam district, said police.

"It was suspected that the soldier has been abducted by militants and five days later his family found Shakir's blood-stained clothes in a nearby orchard. The bark of a tree also bore blood spots," he said adding, "We will still go for DNA testing to ascertain the body is of the soldier."

Meanwhile, Shakir's father Manzoor Ahmad Wagey has also identified the body. "He is my son. Since the time he went missing, I am roaming in the area, deep into the orchards for searching my son. I have dug up several spots in the orchards," he said.