Sajjad Bazaz
During the peak militancy period in 1993, the whole state machinery was struggling to control the militancy-driven situation in Kashmir. Amid this turmoil, Khan remained focussed on his job. But for his passion to keep the Corporation functioning in line with its given mandate, he became a direct victim of militancy. In March 1993, he was kidnapped. He candidly shared the kidnapping incident with TIMES LINK. Here we reproduce the story in his own words:
“Actually I had gone to Delhi for some official work. On my way back to Srinagar, I was kidnapped near Hyderpora when I was on my way home from the Airport. The militants had full information about my arrival. Even my car’s number was already with them.
Precisely, they had planned it well. A group of militants intercepted my car and placed two auto rickshaws just in front of the car. Even as my driver showed some resistance and hit the auto rickshaws to escape from their trap, I asked him to stop. There was apprehension that they might open fire on us as there were three-four gunmen in the auto rickshaws. They took me in the auto rickshaw to a remote place in Budgam. I was immediately taken to a house which belonged to a lady. The militants introduced me as one among them. But she had identified me. She gave me a set of fresh clothes belonging to her son, who was getting married in a couple of weeks, to change. Later during night, they took me to some locality on the old airport side and kept me in a small residential house. I could see that there was a huge BSF camp in that area. Later I escaped from that house during the night hours.”
How did you manage the escape?
In the first instance, I thought they kidnapped me for money as there were stories floating regularly that the militants were kidnapping people for money. So I thought it was now my turn. Even as I was quick enough to offer them money against my release, they told me that they had not kidnapped me for money. They said they wanted to get some of his colleagues released in exchange for my release. They even told me that they were fully aware about my political connections in Delhi as well as here in J&K. They said you were our guest till then and treated me very well.
I thought it’s a prolonged process to get released from their captivity and the government will negotiate and will consume time. I had apprehensions that if the government refused to meet their demand then there was a possibility of getting killed as many examples were there when some officers were kidnapped and then murdered in captivity by the militants.
Meantime, I found my kidnappers not in a good state of health as they were taking antibiotics and had injuries. And were also taking pain killers.
Ultimately they went to sleep and I also gave them the impression that I too was sleeping. Before going to sleep they were just discussing that the house in which we were staying stands fully cordoned by their gunmen. I could smell that they were lying and nobody was guarding us from outside. They were just trying to make me believe that I cannot escape as their gunmen are outside.
When they went to sleep, I quietly opened the main door of the house to escape. Luckily, the bathroom was outside the house. As I unlocked the door, there was a sound. I got frightened that the sound might have broken their sleep and I would be caught. I jumped back to my bed. I could hear dogs continuously barking outside the house. I thought if they couldn’t get up due to barking of dogs, how come they would come out of their sleep by the sound of unlocking the door. So I again approached the main door, opened it with confidence and escaped. I took a round of the house from outside and I couldn’t find anyone guarding it. I immediately rushed barefooted towards the BSF camp which was there in the vicinity just one and a half kilometre away and flash lights at the camp were making it visible.
As I reached near the BSF bunker for help, the paramilitary person on duty aimed his gun at me and directed me to stop. He was almost going to fire at me when his officer appeared on the scene and ordered the security personnel not to fire. The officer asked me about my identity and asked the reason for my roaming at that hour of time. When I disclosed my identity to the officer, he told me that they already had the information about my kidnapping. I was taken inside the camp and they provided me all sorts of comfort – warm clothes, proper bedding and food. They simultaneously informed the concerned state authorities and ensured that I reached my home safely.
