Sara, 30, of Nowgam, whose husband has been missing since last nine years has been thrown out along with her two children by her in-laws on the pretext that she is burden on the family. ``I am neither a widow nor a divorcee. My parents are also not in a position to a support me and my children,'' she said.

Noora, 45, of Srinagar, is sure that Zahoor, her son, will come back one day. Zahoor was apprehended by Army in a crackdown on August 10, 1992. Mushtaq Azad of Kursoo, Rajbagh, is waiting for Himayun Azad, who is missingafter being arrested by BSF in April 10, 1990.

At least 40 parents and relatives from the main city to remotest areas of the Valley narrated their woeful tale at the Press conference yesterday. The conference was organised by the Association of Missing Parents in which its members - Parvez Imroz, Parveena Ahanger and G Runga - answered queries of the victims and mediamen.

The association which has pledged to ascertain about the fate of the missing in action, conceded that despite exploring all methods and spending thousands of rupees they were still without clue about the whereabouts of the missing.

Giving details, Imroz said that since 1988-90, more than 2,000 people in the Valley have gone unaccounted for after being arrested by Army, the para-militarily forces and J&K Police. Of these, he said, 300 cases have been registered in the court, but only 70 cases are being pursued today.

Imroz said realising that the judicial procedures have proved futile in solving such cases in the Valley, majority ofthe parents and the association too, have preferred extra-judicial methods in an effort to trace out the missing.

``Women whose husbands are missing, particularly, have been the worst hit. Managing relation with in-laws and arrange for the food and clothing of their children in the absence of their spouses has been extremely difficult,'' Imroz said.

While Government pays compensation to those who are killed in cross-fire between forces and militants, it has done precious little for the families of missing. ``The government should provide assistance to such families,'' Imroz said. ``We are oscillating between hope and despair, let the government tell us about their fate - whether dead or alive, people will bear it,'' said Parveena Ahanger, president of the association.