Zakir Rashid Bhat
Zakir Rashid Bhat | |
|---|---|
| Founder and 1st Ameer ofAnsar Ghazwat-ul-Hind | |
| In office 27 July 2017 – 24 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hameed Lelhari[1] |
| Field operational Commander ofHizbul Mujahideen | |
| In office 9 July 2016 – 13 May 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Burhan Wani |
| Succeeded by | Riyaz Naikoo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Zakir Rashid Bhat 25 July 1994[2] Noorpora,J&K,India |
| Died | 24 May 2019[2] Dadasara,J&K,India |
| Cause of death | Encounter |
| Education | B.Tech |
| Occupation | Engineer[2] |
| Religion |  Islam |
| Organisation | Kashmir Muslim Conference |
| Party | Kashmir Hurriyat Party |
| Movement | Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
|
| Branch/service |  Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[3][4](2017-2019) |
| Activity years | 2013–2019 |
| Rank | Commander ofHizbul Mujahideen(2016–2017) Commander in chiefEmirofAnsar Ghazwat-ul-Hind(2017–2019) |
| Battles/wars | |
Zakir Rashid Bhat(also known asZakir Musa) was the commander ofHizbul Mujahideenafter the killing ofBurhan WaniandSabzar Bhat,who were the former commanders of the same outfit. He later became the chief ofAnsar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[3][2]
Early life
[edit]Zakir Rashid Bhat was born in Noorpora area ofTralin thePulwama districtof theKashmir ValleyofJammu and Kashmir,India to parents Abdul Rashid Bhat and Maimoonah Bhat. His father Abdul Rashid Bhat, a senior engineer working with the state government.[2]Musa studied at Noor Public School up to 10th, and then attended the government higher secondary institution in Noorpora where he passed his 12th in 2011.[2][5]
Hizbul Mujahideen
[edit]Musa joined theHizbul Mujahideenin 2013 after leaving his studies of Bachelor of Technology.[2]He became the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen after the death ofBurhan Muzaffar Wani;discontent over Wani's death led to the2016 Kashmir unrest.[5][6]In August 2016, Musa issued his first video in Kashmir.[7][8][9][10]He has been described as "part of a new generation of tech-savvy, well-educated terrorist" who became involved in the conflict after the2010 Kashmir unrest.[11]
In 2017, Musa threatened to behead theHurriyatleaders for calling the Kashmir conflict a political, rather than a religious, objective to establish Islamic rule; he warned them not to become a "thorn" in the imposition ofShariain Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen immediately disassociated itself from Musa's statement, and Musa, in response, quit the organization.[12]In 2017, he left the group after it refused to back his public statements supporting his argument that the struggle in Kashmir was for Islam, and not for political purposes.[13][14][15]
Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind
[edit]In July 2017, theGlobal Islamic Media Frontclaimed that Zakir Musa had been named the head of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a newly createdcellofAl-Qaeda.After the killing of commandersAbu Dujanaand Arif Lelhari, a statement purported to be from Musa was released. The statement claimed that Dujana and Lelhari had joinedAl-Qaedaand helped establish it. Officials stated that the voice of the message matched those of the earlier audio clips by Musa, though the state'sDGPS.P. Vaidstated there was no way of authenticating the clips even though there were reports that Dujana and Musa were close at the time. Meanwhile, an audio-clip circulated on media that claimed to be the last message from Dujana and Arif during their encounter. Two voices claim allegiance toAl-Qaeda;however, no gunfire is heard and the authenticity of the clip was not proven.
It was reported on 12 August 2017 that Musa and his aide evaded an Indian Army and JK Police operation when locals pelted security forces with stones in Noorpora village ofTral.[16]Allegedly according to Indian media In an audio message released on 31 August 2017, Musa attackedPakistanfor "betraying Kashmir jihad." He also stated that the objective of Al-Qaeda's Kashmir cell was to clear it from the Pakistan government, army and their sponsored agents. He also threatened to "liberate India" from the Hindus.[17]According to Indian media, Hizbul put up posters inSoporein September 2017, which held him responsible for helping Indian security forces kill Kashmiris, asking people to chase him to death and also called him an "Indian agent."[18]
Call for return of Kashmiri Pandits
[edit]Musa, like his predecessorBurhan Wani,asked theKashmiri Panditsto return to their homeland.[19]He stated during a video released after the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016, "We request Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homes. We take the responsibility of their protection."[20]
Death and aftermath
[edit]Zakir Musa was killed after an 11-hour long operation.[21]Musa was killed by security forces in an encounter atDadasaravillage inTralon 24 May 2019.[22][23]
In the aftermath of Zakir Musa's encounter, as a preventive measure to protect civilians the government authorities snapped internet services in the entireKashmirregion. Curfew was imposed in all the major towns of the valley, including in the main city ofSrinagar,also schools and colleges were ordered to remain shut in some areas.[24][21]
At the time of his death, theBBC Newsdescribed him as "India's most wanted militant".[3][24]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Ashraf Wani (23 October 2019)."J&K: Zakir Musa's successor killed in Awantipora encounter".India Today.Retrieved19 December2020.
- ^abcdefghAarti Tikoo Singh (14 May 2017)."From engineering dropout to militant: Story of Hizbul militant who quit outfit".The Times of India.Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2022.Retrieved14 May2017.
- ^abcd"Zakir Musa: Thousands mourn India's 'most wanted' militant".BBC News.24 May 2019.Retrieved4 July2019.
- ^ab"Terrorists in Kashmir: Army releases list of 12 most wanted terrorists in Kashmir Valley - India News".The Times of India.2 June 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 12 November 2020.Retrieved2 June2017.
- ^ab"Al-Qaida-linked cell Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind announces Zakir Musa as its chief in Kashmir".Times of India.27 July 2017.
- ^Zee Media Bureau (1 April 2017)."Burhan Wani's successor, Zakir Musa, provoked attacks against J&K police, called stone-pelters soldiers of Islam".Zee News.
- ^"Burhan Wani 'successor' posts video, seeks support of Kashmiris".18 August 2016.
- ^"Hizbul Mujahideen projects Zakir Rashid Bhat as mujahideen Burhan Wani's successor in Kashmir - News Nation".18 August 2016.
- ^"How different is Hizul Mujahideen's Zakir Rashid than his predecessor Burhan Wani? - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis".18 August 2016.
- ^"Hizbul Mujahideen projects Zakir Rashid Bhat as Wani's successor".18 August 2016.
- ^"Kashmir's disturbing new reality - the young militants of Kashmir".
- ^Zee Media Bureau (15 May 2017)."With Call For 'Islamic Rule', Zakir Musa May Have Signalled Ideological Split in Kashmir Terrorism".The Wire (Indian web publication).
- ^"Zakir Musa Quits Hizbul Mujahideen Day After Threatening To Kill Hurriyat Leaders".News 18.
- ^"Local Militant Group Claims It Informed Police About Hizb Commander Sabzar Bhat's Whereabout".Outlook.2 June 2017.
- ^Rahul Kanwal (30 May 2017)."Was Sabzar Bhatt betrayed by boss Zakir Musa? Intel inputs suggest rift among Kashmiri terrorists".India Today.Retrieved5 July2019.
Radio and mobile chatter intercepted by India's intelligence agencies reflect a high level of distrust between former Hizbul commander Zakir Musa and the terror outfit he had led till recently. In the aftermath of the encounter killing of Burhan Wani's successor, Sabzar Bhatt, Indian agencies have recorded multiple conversations where the Hizbul Mujahideen cadre can be heard discussing whether Zakir Musa betrayed Sabzar Bhatt. Hizbul terrorists seem to suspect that a personal messenger close to Musa tipped off the Jammu and Kashmir police about the location of Sabzar's hideout. Sabzar was killed in an encounter close to his hometown of Tral.
- ^"J&K: Stone-pelters help cornered terrorist Zakir Musa flee".Times of India.12 August 2017.
- ^Wani, Fayaz (1 September 2017)."Al Qaeda Kashmir head slams Pakistan for betraying Kashmir 'jehad', warns India".The New Indian Express.Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2017.
- ^Pandit, M. Saleem (18 September 2017)."Hizbul blames Zakir Musa for 'helping forces kill Kashmiris'".Times of India.
- ^"Homecoming of Pandits in Kashmir's new age of militancy".www.dailyo.in.Retrieved20 April2020.
- ^"Burhan Wani's successor requests Kashmiri Pandits to return, assures safety".Hindustan Times.18 October 2016.Retrieved20 April2020.
- ^ab"Zakir Musa: Tensions in Kashmir after killing of top rebel".www.aljazeera.com.Retrieved27 March2020.
- ^"Zakir Musa: India's 'most wanted' militant killed in Kashmir".BBC News.24 May 2019.
- ^"Zakir Musa, Jammu and Kashmir's most wanted militant, killed in encounter: Police".Hindustan Times.23 May 2019.
- ^abBen Farmer (24 May 2019)."Killing of 'most wanted' al-Qaeda linked Kashmir militant sparks protest".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved4 July2019.
