Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 1:Police have apprehended four militants of Hizbul Mujahideen for killing a Special Police Officer (SPO) and attacking a Sarpanch in North Kashmir’s Sopore area town last week.
DIG North Kashmir, J P Singh told a news conference in Baramulla that these militants were tasked to eliminate at least a half dozen Panchayat members before Eid-ul- Fitr that falls on August 9.
The DIG said that the four militants were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) under direct command of HM commander Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo alias Fayaz son of Abdul Khaliq of Kraltang Sopore and another HM militant Mehrajudin Halwai son of Abdul Khaliq Halwai of Khushalmatoo, Sopore, who had plans to kill at least 5 more Sarpanchs before Eid-ul-Fitr in Sangrama area of Sopore, North Kashmir.
Singh said that they had received orders from HM supremo Syed Salahudin to kill the Sarpanchs. “These orders are being passed through HM chief of the Valley Abdul Qayoom Najar alias Jan Sahib son of Abdul Ahad Najar of Mumkak, Sopore”, he added.
The DIG said that Hizb Supremo, Syed Salahudin is desperate to destabilize Panchayat Raj Institutions in Kashmir valley. “The mass participation of people in country side in governance affairs has frustrated him and he has directed his cadres to harm members of Panchayat Raj Institutions by all means”, he added.
“Serious efforts are on to neutralize the Hizb network active in North Kashmir areas of Handwara, Sopore, Naidkhai and Palhalan to ensure peace”, Singh said.
The DIG said that police with the help of 52 Rashtriya Rifles and 22 RR apprehended the killers of SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar on July 28 and those who attacked Sarpanch Khazir Mohammad Parray of Krankshivan, Sopore on July 26. Both these attacks were carried out last week in which the SPO died and Sarpanch was critically wounded.
The DIG said that based on the eye witness account during investigation, one of the accused Asif Ahmad Dar alias Ashmate son of Ghulam Hassan Dar of Mumkak, Sopore was arrested from his house during a raid and a pistol was recovered from him.
Singh said that on Dar’s disclosure and as well as eye witness account one more accused Aqib Ahmad Mir alias Mohd Ramzan Mir of Khawaja Gilgit, Sopore was arrested and a pistol was recovered from his possession.
The police officer said that during investigation and questioning of the two accused, involvement of two more in the killing the SPO and attack on Sarpanch surfaced. “Both the accused Mehrajudin Rather alias Shabir son of Gulzar Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad Lone son of Abdul Rashid residents of village Krankshivan Sopore were arrested by Police, CRPF and Army and two more pistols were recovered from their possession”, he said.
The DIG said that investigation of the cases revealed that on July 27, Asif Ahmad Dar, Mehrajudin Rather and Fayaz Ahmad offered prayers in Jamia Masjid Krankshivan where Sarpanch Khizar Mohammad also offered prayers.
“All the three came out of the Masjid before the Sarpanch and Asif Ahmad Dar with backup support of other two fired upon him from point blank. Assuming him to be dead they fled away from the spot. Asif Ahmad Dar and Aqib Ramzan Mir attacked SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar on July 28 killing him on spot. Mudasir was a member of anti-narcotics squad of Sopore Police.”, Singh said.
The police officer said that Asif Ahmad Dar has a history of drug addiction and stone pelting. “He was detained under PSA in July 2011 but got his PSA quashed after three months only. The second accused Aqib Ramzan is a school dropout. The third one, Mehrajudin Rather is an ex-militant who had gone to PoK in 2000 for training of Arms and Ammunition. After his return from PoK, Rather was arrested in Baramulla in year 2003. During year 2011 Mehrajudin again associated himself with the Jaish-e-Mohammad and was arrested along with a pistol and two hand grenades from Zakura Srinagar. The fourth one, Fayaz Ahmad had earlier been an over ground worker of the militants Ishtiyaq Pir of Hygam and Zahoor Ganie alias Vicky of Krankshivan in 2007”, the officer added.
The DIG said that HM is roping in ex-militants and sympathizers of Hizb in its fold. “One Pervaiz Ahmad Wani son of Sona Ullah Wani of Handwara, a released militant of Hizb has also joined the group. He along with militant Nisar Ahmad Dar alias Usman of Saidpora is main accused in killing of one businessman Kifayat Hussain Mir of Bohripora and 4 policemen, two each killed in Handwara and Srinagar in March and June this year”, DIG added.
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