Missing in snowfall Rajouri villagers traced in Shopian after 4 days

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, Oct 27: Rajouri district police with the help of Shopian district police in a joint search operation with the Army and CRPF have traced the two villagers after four days of their missing in the snow-clad Pir Panjal Mountains.
On October 24 a missing report was lodged by the family at Budhal police station in Rajouri district that Javed Shah s/o Hanief Shah of village Targain along with a relative, namely Khadam Shah son of Muzamal Shah resident of Hasote (Chasana) in Reasi district went to Kashmir by foot along with their sheep and goats on 22nd October.
But due to inclement weather and heavy snowfall no further communication could be established with them.
Accordingly, a police party from Budhal police station was rushed to the higher reaches. A police team from the Reasi district and the Army also assisted Rajouri police team in the search for the missing persons.
As per reports on Tuesday a relative of Khadam Shah received a call from Kahadm at Chasana but without any conversation, the call was disconnected confirming that both are safe.
“A specific technical exercise was initiated and Budhal police station gathered information based on technical evidence in order to trace the missing person,” said a senior police officer at Rajouri.
Based on this technical exercise, a police team led by Mustaj Ahmed, SHO Budhal succeeded in tracking the said person from the Mony Mahal area of Shopian district.
Shopian police were alerted and it immediately swung into action and assisted in establishing contact with the missing persons.
Both the missing persons were later traced safely by the searching party along with goats & sheep.
SP Rajouri, Ms. Sheema Nabi Qasba has appealed to people not to venture on snow-bound mountains and areas and to move only on those tracks which are safe in the winter season.