Aurangzeb was abducted and killed by militants in Pulwama on June 14. File photo

Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, February 6

The Army has been questioning  three soldiers over their possible involvement in leaking information about the movement of their colleague Aurangzeb, a rifleman with 44 Rashtriya Rifles, who was kidnapped and killed by militants in south Kashmir on June 14.

The three soldiers are being quizzed on suspicion that they might have knowingly or unknowingly leaked information about Aurangzeb’s movements.

Aurangzeb, who was proceeding on leave for Eid on 14 June, 2018, was kidnapped and later shot in the head and neck.

His body was found by a team of police and Army officials at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora, in Pulwama district, from where he was abducted.

Aurangzeb had taken lift from a private vehicle outside his camp in Shopian, but was being tracked by militants, who stopped the car and abducted him a few kilometres away.

Aurangzeb, who was close to an Army officer who had gunned down Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sameer Tiger in Kashmir in April, 2018, was killed by the militants in Pulwama last year.

The three soldiers, all locals and belonging to the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, have been identified as Abid Hussain Wani, Tajamul Ahmed and Adil Wani.

Though the Army is tightlipped about the questioning of the three soldiers in Aurangzeb killing, an official on condition of anonymity disclosed that “the three soldiers are with them and an Inquiry to ascertain their role is currently underway”. He did not elaborate further.

One of the soldiers under the scanner is brother of Abid Tauseef Wani — who was allegedly tortured by an Army officer in Shadimarg camp — where Aurangzeb was posted.

Wani is currently undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital here.

“Abid, originally working with JAKLI. He was posted with 44 Rashtriya Rifles, when he was detained in June. Since then, we have not heard about him. The Army is not telling us anything. The Army on Monday also took his younger brother Towseef and tortured him under custody, who is now admitted in SMHS Hospital in Srinagar,” a relative of Abid told The Tribune.

“Apart from Abid, the Army has also detained two other soldiers namely Adil and Tajamul,” the relative said.

3 security men suspected of leaking info  

• An Army officer on the condition of anonymity said “the three soldiers are with them and an inquiry to ascertain their role is currently underway.
• It is suspected that the detained soldiers might have leaked information about the movement of Rifleman Aurangzeb (in pic) to the militants.