On November 16, 2002, Showkat Ahmed Katari, along with Altaf Ahmed Chechi, of village Katiwali in Baramulla went missing. "He was very enthusiastic because his sister was coming to see him that day... I later heard from his friends that Showkat, had taken a lift home from some 21 RR personnel. He never returned. The next day we went to the Army camp but no one acknowledged that Showkat had been arrested," says Showkat's uncle Shams Din.

Since then, the family has continued its search for Showkat.

"His brother died of heart attack. He had not been keeping well ever since his brother disappeared," says Jamal Katari, Showkat's father.

The family lodged a missing persons report at Chogul police chowki in Baramulla. Showkat's relatices say, since then, they have met all top officers of the district and ministers. "At first, the police even refused to register an FIR, but after the intervention of our local MLA, they filed a missing report. I met Muzaffar Hussain Beig and he assured us of action but nothing has been done till now. I even met Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was the chief minister then but our case is still unheard," says Shams Din.

Family members say they have not left out any Army camp or jail in Baramulla. "But I don't consider him dead... He was a nice person and never harmed anybody. I have faith in God. He won't disappoint me," says Rafiqa Bano, Showkat's wife.

Relatives say they regularly take oart in protests organised by Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons.