After 55 days, Body of third missing Gujjar Bakerwal youth recovered in Kulgam

April 11, 2025 by News Desk

Danishwar Hameed

Fifty-five days after three Gujjar youth from Rajouri went missing in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the body of the third missing man, Mukhtar Ahmad, was recovered on Friday from Vaishow Nallah near Mah Ashmuji area.

The latest recovery comes nearly a month after the bodies of the other two—Riyaz Ahmad Bajad and his younger brother Showkat Ahmad Bajad—were found in the same stream on March 16.

In February, The Kashmiriyat had reported that the three men, migrant labourers temporarily residing in Chandian Pajan, Qazigund, had gone missing in mid-February from Qazigund.

“Their families had lodged missing reports and searched for them across the region, fearing the worst,” as per our report

On March 16, the bodies of Riyaz and Showkat were recovered from Vaishow Nallah, sparking concerns about the fate of Mukhtar. With today’s recovery, the grim mystery has reached a tragic conclusion.

The back-to-back discoveries from the same stream have triggered protests by locals and family members, who are demanding a thorough and transparent investigation.

So far, police have not released any details regarding the cause of death.

An official told The Kashmiriyat that further proceedings under law are being carried out, and post-mortem examinations are likely to be conducted.