Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 16: In a major breakthrough into the assassination case of late Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq, who was killed at his Nigeen residence in 1990, police arrested two Hizbul Mujahideen militants who were evading arrest for last over three decades.
Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room (PCR) here, Special Director General of Police (CID), RR Swain said that Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, both residents of Srinagar were arrested by the State Investigating Agency (SIA).
“They were evading arrest as they were hiding in Pakistan and Nepal over these years. Both have been arrested and handed over to CBI as proclaimed offenders,” he said.
He said one of the two arrested Hizb militants Zahoor Ahmed Bhat was the one who had entered into the bedroom of Mirwaiz and opened fire at him.
Police registered a case in the assassination of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq on May 21, 1990 in Police Station Nigeen (FIR 61/1990) and the case was then transferred to CBI. “The CBI had presented a charge-sheet against one accused after arresting him before the TADA court after which the court awarded lifer to him,” he said.
The Special DG CID said that investigations into the case revealed that Hizb commander Abdullah Bangroo had hatched a conspiracy to kill Mirwaiz. “Bangroo and his associate Rehman Shigan (both Hizb commanders) were killed in encounters while one accused Ayub Dar was serving lifer,” he said.
He said that the arrested duo had gone underground and during all these years were variously hiding in Nepal and Pakistan among other places before surreptitiously returning to Kashmir few years ago. “Maintaining a low profile, changing addresses and shifting residences, they avoided the gaze of law enforcement agencies,” he said.
“Accused in CBI case RC0501990S008 (pertaining to killing of Mirwaiz Farooq) they are now liable to immediately face trial in a designated TADA court in Delhi,” he said.
During trial running for several years, it could be established that the militant who pulled the trigger on Mirwaiz Farooq on the fateful day on the directions of then HM commander Abdullah Bangroo was Zahoor Bhat who ironically succeeded in evading arrest by going into hiding,” he said.
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