Security forces raided their house and arrested him

Shah8217;s family says on the night of March 6, 2000, security forces raided their house and arrested him. When the family questioned them, they say the security personnel threatened them.

Next morning, villagers reported the incident at local police station and filed a missing persons report. 8220;We visited all neighbouring army camps. But nobody confirmed his arrest. We also met senior police officers in Kupwara and Handwara. But they also did not come to our rescue,8221; says Abdul Majid, one of Shah8217;s close relatives.

Relatives extended their search to other parts of the state. 8220;We met several army officers, but nobody acknowledged his arrest,8221; says a neighbour.

The family8217;s hopes were renewed again when someone told them he had seen Shah inside a nearby 14 Rajput camp.

They contacted the camp in-charge. 8220;It was the first time any security agency had admitted that Shah was in their custody,8221; says Majid. The officers, too, assured them of Shah8217;s release.

But after some days, when the family again contacted officers at the camp, they denied that they had arrested Shah. The family says they met the then senior superintendent of police, Kupwara, requesting him to include the name of the unit in the missing persons report.

But they say the officer refused to help. 8220;We approached the State Human Rights Commission. A case is pending with it now,8221; says Majid.