Men in veils dragged Zarger out of the house

Relatives still remember the day he was dragged out of his house from Masjid Chowk in Doda. It was 1995, July 25, when his house was raided by "men in veils".

"We were having dinner, when Army men knocked on our door," said Abdul Qayoom, his cousin. "Zarger welcomed them and offered them tea and apples," he said.

According to Qayoom, soon after the Army left, a group of veiled men visited their house. "They were looking for Zarger and wanted him to guide them to the neighboring village," he said. The family believes the men in veil were the same Army men who had tea with them earlier.

However, Zarger's father, Ghulam Mohammad, offered to show them the way. "But the men in veils dragged Zarger out of the house," Qayoom said, an instructor at Training Institute Doda. That was last time when the family saw him alive.

Family members, however believe, that the only reason behind Zarger's disappearance could be his two distant relatives who were militants. "It is true. Two of his relatives were militants. But, he (Zarger) had no contacts with them," he said. "My cousin wanted to become a leading contractor of Doda. And he worked hard to fulfill his dreams."

The family has also filed a case with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). "Our case is with the SHRC," he said. "And one day we will get justice."

Twelve years after his son's disappearance, Ghulam Mohammad died. But he left a message for his son: "If he ever returns, tell him I tried to locate him, but failed". The family still lives with the belief that that one day Zarger will return. "Even after 13 years, everyone prays for him," says Qayoom.