Srinagar, Sept 23(GNS): An army soldier whose body was found after 416 days was laid to rest at his native village of Reshipora Shopian.

GOC Victor Force, Commander 2 Sector, CO 34 RR were among those who offered tributes to the soldier Shakir Manzoor at his native place. The function was organized in a local ground. Shakir’s decomposed body was found yesterday and his family identified him even as police has gone for DNA test to cent percent confirm the identification.

On 2 August 2020, Shakir (24), a rifleman with the 162 Battalion of Indian Army’s Territorial Army unit, had come home at Reshipora Shopian to celebrate Eid. He was driving back in his car to a nearby army camp where he was posted when he went missing.

An official statement issued the next day said that Shakir’s burnt car had been found in neighbouring Kulgam district: “It is suspected that the soldier has been abducted by (militants). Search op in progress.”

While the body is beyond recognition, a police officer told GNS that Manzoor Ahmad, soldier’s father, told police said that based on hair and foot, “the body seems to be” that of his son. However, the police have decided to get DNA sampling done to identity if the body is that of Shakir or not. “The DNA test will surely reveal if the body is that of Shakir,” the officer said.

As reported earlier by GNS, the decomposed dead body was recovered from an orchard in Mohammadpora area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday.

They said corpse was wrapped in a sheet (blue colored tarpaulin) near a BSNL tower and it had decomposed to the extent that skull is seen with flesh left in few parts only. (GNS)