Desperate to get his young son back, Wani was cheated by some counter-insurgents, who promised him to bring back his son. "An Ikhwani (counter-insurgent), Muma Bhat duped me of Rs 35,000 by promising me to bring my son back," he said. After Bhat took the money from Wani he never turned up. "Another person also took away some money from me. Now I am left with no money," he said.

At the age of 75, now Wani finds it difficult to run his family affairs. "I don't have enough money to keep the fire of my kitchen alive," he said. In order to locate his son, Wani even met former J-K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and senior NC leader Ali Mohammad Sager. "Leaders tried to avoid me," he said, adding that the leaders were helping the counter-insurgents, responsible for the abduction of his son.

Taking the advantage of the family's poverty, some politicians tried to offer money, but the family refused to accept it. "They (government officials) asked us to take Rs one lakh as compensation. I don't need money, I want my son alive," he said. The old man visits every shrine and prays for his son's safe return. "I am sure my son is alive and he will come back to us," Wani said.