Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 3: In a major blow to Hizbul Mujahideen splinter group of Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) that was responsible for recent attacks on Telecoms in North Kashmir, its deputy Tariq Ahmad Mir alias Zahid alias Tariq Mawar’s body was recovered from Ferozpora Nullah in Naid Khai area of North Kashmir today.
Deputy Inspector General of Police North Kashmir, Garib Dass told Excelsior that some civilians this morning spotted a body at Gulabwari in Naidkhai area in Ferozpur Nullah. “The Police took the body into the custody and the body was later on identified as of Tariq Ahmad Mir alias Zahid Arif, son of Ghulam-ud-Din Mir, resident of Adoora in Mawar, Handwara area of Kupwara district,” he said.
One pistol, one magazine and 13 rounds were also recovered along with the deceased from Ferozpore Nullah
Dass said that the Tariq along with Qayoom Najjar fired upon a police party at Mirgund in Narbal last week in which SHO Pattan and two cops were injured.
“After giving slip to police, a search party again spotted them running at Gulabwari in Sumbal but they did not open fire as they were not sure whether the duo were militants or civilians. Subsequently, the two militants jumped into the water but Tariq could not swim and he drowned. However, Qayoom Najjar managed to cross the river and escaped,” the DIG said.
Tariq was a close associate of Qayoom Najjar and an active member of Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) militant outfit. He was involved in a number of attacks including the recent Sopore attacks.
The DIG said that Tariq was involved in a number of killings, planting of IEDs and attacks on cellular towers in North Kashmir. “A number of FIRs in Pattan, Sopore and Handwara police stations stand registered against the deceased militant,” he said.
Dass said that Tariq was among the longest surviving militants in Kashmir. He said that Tariq joined militancy in 2000 and had gone to Pakistan twice in these years. He was divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen before he formed LeI with Qayoom Najjar and became his deputy.
DIG said that Tariq was involved in an attack on the residence of SP Sopore in 2011, IED blast outside Police Station Sopore killing a police man, attack on a police party in Haigam Sopore in 2013 killing four policemen and killing of two IRP men in Handwara in 2013.
Riyaz Mawar along with Qayoom Najjar were behind the attacks on Telecoms in Sopore and killing of Hurriyat activits and former militants in Sopore recently in which 5 people were killed.
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