From acting in Bollywood to choosing gun, teenage militant Saqib left his family guessing

Bandipora: Saqib Bilal ,17, belonged to rich family in Hajin’s Parray Mohalla in Bandipora district. He had played in Bollywood blockbuster Haider as a chocolate boy. His family says they would have never thought Saqib will pick up arms as he was fond of being first choice of Bollywood directors.

In Haider, Saqib played a role of a spot boy and was rewarded also. The Bollywood director Vishaal Bhardwaj had promised more roles to Saqib and his family was sure that Saqib will never think of picking up arms.

On August 31 , this year Saqib along with his friend Mudasir, 14, went to play football where they left the game midway to ride a bike that was waiting for them. From the very day they didn’t return and neither did call their families.

While Saqib belongs to rich family, Mudasir’s family is poorest of poor. They don’t even have a proper kitchen to cook food. Saqib’s family visited every place in search of their son but to no avail and were sure that he had eloped with some girl for having an affair.

“We were 100 percent sure that he has fled with some girl. Until Mudasir released his photo with a gun four days before Mujgund fight, we thought Saqib is with some girl. But after the photograph we came to KNO that he has joined militancy,” said Saqib’s uncle Aijaz Ahmed told KNO. Saqib’s line was totally different and “we are in a shock over the step he chose.”(KNO)