Family asks AMU scholar who joined Hizbul Mujahideen to come home

The family of a research scholar Mannan Bashir Wani of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), who joined the terrorist organisation the Hizbul Mujahideen, has urged him to shun terrorism and return home. 

Wani's family was shocked when photos of Wani holding an AK-47 went viral on the social media. The picture, reportedly uploaded by Hizbul Mujahideen, said Wani had joined the terrorist outfit on January 5.

Wani's mother, who was distressed and cried continuously, urged her son to shun the path and come back home.

"I haven't hurt you nor refused any of your any decisions. If I ever did anything, please forgive me and come back. Shun the militancy path and join the family members again," Wani's mother said.

His grieving father says the decision was a "serious shock" for the family members but said he wouldn't "curse" him for his decision since his son was "mentally-sound and a well-qualified man."

"It was not expected that Mannan would join the militant groups. All family members are in a serious shock," Wani's father said, adding that his son used to discuss his decisions with him.

"Mannan was like a friend to me and I had never expected him to make such a decision."

"The only heartbreaking decision Manan took in his life was that he joined the terrorist outfit without letting me know. I wouldn't curse Mannan for the decision because he is a mentally-sound and a well-qualified man. Mannan always took decisions that would benefit his career," Wani's father said.

Wani's mother and sister were so shocked by the news that they could not utter a word. While the mother cried uncontrollably, Wani's sister was in an unconscious condition, and kept murmuring that she wants "my brother back."

Mannan Bashir Wani and his family belong to Tekkipora Lolab in Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Wani's friends and family say he was last spotted holidaying in his hometown, after which he went missing.

Wani has been expelled by the Aligarh Muslim University. 

The Hizbul Mujahideen's Pakistan-based chief Syed Salahuddin confirmed to local media yesterday that Manaan Wani had joined the terrorist outfit.

"Joining of Manaan Wani exposes the Indian propaganda that the youths of Kashmir are joining militant ranks due to unemployment and economic distress," Salahuddin said in the statement to a Srinagar-based news gathering agency yesterday.

"From years on, educated and qualified youths of Kashmir have been joining Hizbul Mujahideen to take this ongoing freedom movement to logical conclusion. This spirit of youths is laudable," Salahuddin added in the statement in Urdu.

The police, who is tracing his whereabouts as of now, earlier said that they could not rely on a photograph to conclude that Wani had joined the terror group.

(With inputs from PTI)