Rifleman Javed Ahmad, a 25-year-old soldier belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regiment, has gone missing in Kulgam district of South Kashmir. He had returned home on leave to celebrate Eid with his family and was scheduled to resume duty on Monday.

The soldier was last seen on Saturday around 6.30 pm when he ventured out to buy some items from the local market, driving an Alto car. However, when he failed to return home by 9 pm, his worried family members began searching for him. Their concern heightened when they discovered the abandoned car near the market, which reportedly had blood stains.

Local authorities were promptly notified, and the Kashmir police have registered a case. 

Security forces have launched a large-scale search operation to locate the missing soldier.  Kashmir has witnessed similar incidents in the past, where soldiers on leave have been abducted and killed by terrorists.