Srinagar, Aug 28: Police on Friday recovered body of a missing Panch from an orchard in Dangam area of Shopain district.
Official sources told GNS that the body was buried and was spotted by some passersby who informed the police. Later a police team reached the spot and recovered it, they said.
“The body has been identified to be that of the Panch Nissar Ahmad Bhat of Khonmoh,” they said.
The family had already filed a report with police, stating that Bhat left for Shopian on August 19 and was missing since then.
Last week militants released an audio in which they claimed to have killed the panch and “did not return the body due to COVID-19 pandemic.” Police declined to comment on the purported audio.
A police officer said that investigations have revealed that the Panch had gone to meet father of Suhail Ahmed Bhat ( a militant of Al Badar who was killed today) of Muradpora at around 1300 hours on August 19 where from the he had left at around 1330 hours on the motorcycle of one a person who had dropped him at Hajipora-Chakoora crossing.
Regarding the Panch, they said, he was a former policeman and a former militant. He was booked under PSA in 1990s and 12 FIRs were registered against him, they added. (GNS)