Srinagar, February 2 (NationPress) A soldier, identified as Rifleman Abid Bhat, has gone missing in the Anantnag district of J&K while returning to his duty after a holiday, as reported by officials on Sunday.

According to officials, Abid Bhat departed from his residence in Chittergul village in Anantnag to report to his duty station at Rangreth, Srinagar on Saturday. However, he failed to arrive at the camp by Sunday morning, prompting the lodging of a missing persons complaint with the local police.

Having spent his time off at home, Abid was anticipated to return to his posting at Rangreth, a military facility in Srinagar. His failure to report for duty raised concerns, leading military officials to file a complaint and initiate an investigation.

“The soldier left his home in Chittergul on Saturday but did not show up at his assigned camp as expected,” confirmed an official.

He further stated that a report has been filed, and efforts to locate the missing soldier are actively underway.

Historically, there have been instances where soldiers on leave were abducted by militants, with some tragically losing their lives.

On October 9, 2024, security forces discovered the bullet-ridden body of a Territorial Army (TA) soldier who had been kidnapped by terrorists in Anantnag. This incident is part of a troubling pattern of abductions involving soldiers in the Kashmir region.

Earlier in August 2023, a soldier went missing while on leave in Kulgam district, but he was subsequently located by the police.

In 2019, another soldier, Yasin Bhat, narrowly avoided a kidnapping attempt at his home in Qazipora, Budgam.

Over the past nine years, more than five soldiers have been abducted and killed across various locations in Kashmir, particularly in the Shopian and Kulgam districts of southern Kashmir.