J&K soldier on leave goes missing, police launch probe

The Jammu and Kashmir police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of an army soldier from his home in Budgam district, officials said.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of an army soldier from his home in Budgam district, officials said.

Sameer Malla, who is posted in Jammu with the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, had taken leave and was visiting his family in Lokipora Budgam.

Sameer Malla, who is posted in Jammu with the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI), had taken leave and was visiting his family in Lokipora Budgam. According to his family members, Malla stepped out of the house on Monday afternoon and has not returned.

A senior army officer said the police are dealing with the issue and looking for his whereabouts.

SSP Budgam Tahir Saleem didn’t respond to repeated calls and messages from HT.

“It has been two days now that we have no trace of Sameer. His phone is switched off,” said Habibullah Malik, Malla’s uncle.

According to Malik, Malla had taken leave expecting the birth of his second child.

“At around 1:30 pm he left home on foot after lunch. Normally he would use his car for even shorter distances but this time he left on foot,” said Malik.

He said that at around 3:30 pm his mother called him to know his whereabouts.

“He told his mother that his phone battery is going down and will be switched off. He told her that he was with his friend, who is a retired army man, at Khag. However, later we came to know through his last phone location that he was 5 km away at Surash,” said Malik.

“If he is with militants and they want him to leave the army, we are ready for that. He has a family- wife and two children. His parents will go mad if something happens to him. Life is more important than a job,” he said.