SRINAGAR:  A talented research scholar in P.hd program and the alumni of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), who went missing after taking a break to visit his family in Kashmir but was seen holding a gun in images which are getting rounds on social media, has been the member of  Hizbul Mujahideen headed terror group.

Manan Bashir Wani,  who is said to be in his mid-twenties, was caught holding what showed to be an AK assault rifle in pics that went viral on all social media websites on Sunday.Before a day, the Hizbul Mujahideen confirmed that he had shaken hands with their terror outfit.

"It is a negation to India's propaganda that youth are joining militant ranks because of unemployment and economic problems. Educated youth are joining Hizb to take the freedom movement forward" made a statement by the leader of the banned terror group, Syed Salahuddin.

Manan Wani left the university in Uttar Pradesh a few days back and should have reached his home at Lolab Valley in in Kupwara district three days ago, but he never showed up. His phone went off. Then the terrifying photo surfaced on Sunday afternoon.

Manan Wani was specializing in Applied Geology and had last year been acclaimed for his research paper on flood risk assessment at an international conference. Over the last five years, As per reports he had been intermingled in student politics.