Student-turned-Militant: Family says police pushed him to militancy

Srinagar, Nov 28: Family of the student-turned-militant Mohammad Ishfaq Khan on Wednesday said police pushed him to militancy.
Mohammad, a student of class 12, a resident of Sozaith, Narbal, here, went missing a month ago. Then recently, his gun-wielding picture went viral on social media, claiming his inclusion into Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit as Abu Musaib.
His parents and sisters appeared at Press Enclave here, carrying Ishfaq’s picture.
His father, Abdul Rashid Khan, said police had been harassing Ishfaq since 2016, while his second son, too, has been slapped with Public Safety Act and jailed in Kotbhalwal.
“In 2016, he (Mohammad) took part in stone pelting, but never after that. There was no FIR against him. I fail to understand why only my son was harassed. It was because of harassment he picked up gun,” he said.
“He was a pious person, the only source of income for us. Had police not committed excesses, he would never have joined militancy.”
Abdul, in his 70s, said the police recently damaged their household goods.
Firdousa Bano, Abdul’s one of four daughters, appealed his brother to return home for his ailing parents.
“My father has been ill. He is taking medicines for many ailments including hypertension. If not for anybody, he shall return for his ailing parents,” she said.
She said Mohammad worked as a labourer for the last four years.
“He worked for a meagre income, but fulfilled the needs of the family. Our father is old, confined to bed. Three of us daughters are still unmarried,” she said.