Dar, son of Abdul Majeed Dar, belonged to Darpora village in Hallpora, Gadool, Kokernag. According to reports, he had left home in search of employment, travelling first to Srinagar and later to Ludhiana in Punjab.
A family member said they remained in regular telephone contact with Dar for about a week before his mobile phone was switched off, leaving them unable to reach him. His prolonged disappearance raised concerns among his relatives, who sought urgent efforts to trace him.
On October 17, Dar’s family and local residents staged a protest in Hallpora, expressing apprehension over his whereabouts and demanding action to locate him. The return of his body on Monday triggered fresh protests, with grieving relatives and residents blocking a road and later gathering outside Police Station Kokernag.
The family alleged that Dar had been murdered and demanded that those responsible be identified and arrested. However, the circumstances surrounding his death have not been independently established, and the allegation remains subject to investigation.
A missing-person report had been lodged on September 26. Police assured the protesters that the case would be investigated fairly and taken to its logical conclusion, following which the protesters dispersed peacefully.
