Srinagar: While paying rich tribute to Shopian youth Adil Farooq Magray who was killed in forces firing on late Tuesday evening, militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen on Wednesday said that one Danish Ahmed who appeared in the funeral of HM commander, Sabzar Ahmed Bht, is not affiliated with the Hizbul Mujhadeen.
Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed that an unidentified militant seen at Bhat’s funeral ‘surrendered’ before the armed forces.
The ‘militant’ hails from Handwara town of Kupwara district.
A police handout read that few days back video clips of an unidentified militant, wearing battle pouch with a grenade, were in circulation on social media.
These video clips were clicked in Tral, Awantipora by the local photo-journalists during the funeral of HM commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat.
“During investigation, this militant was identified as Danish Ahmad, s/o Farooq Ahmed of Kulangam, Handwara. It further surfaced that Danish was studying in BSc (third year) at Doon P G College of Agriculture Science and Technology, Dehradun. Danish was found involved in stone-pelting incidents at Handwara in 2016 turmoil also. He was picked up by the police but was let off after counseling in view of his career,” the police handout read.
“Once it was learnt that Danish has joined militancy, Handwara police and 21 RR army got into touch with his parents and impressed upon them to counsel their son for surrender. His parents were convinced that if he surrenders, he would be dealt with fairly under law. Efforts made by security forces yielded results and Danish surrendered before Handwara police and 21 RR army.”
Police said that on being questioned, he revealed that he was in touch with militants of South Kashmir region on social media sites; and it was “on their instigation” that he had decided to become a militant.
“He was tasked by Hizbul Mujahideen commanders to ‘activate’ some local youth in North Kashmir and make the region as militancy infested as the southern part of Kashmir. However, after spending a few days with the militants in South Kashmir, he realized the futility of joining militant ranks,” the police statement added.
However, in a statement to local news gathering agency – CNS – HM deputy chief, Saifullah Khalid said, “Danish Ahmed was seen in the funeral of Sabzar Ahmed along with pouch and grenades. Police while relating him with Hizb claimed that he surrendered. Attaching with Hizb is a blatant lie from Police as he was never a part of our outfit.”
The police further said that a case vide number FIR number 133/2017 under section 7/25 Arms Act stands registered in Police Station Handwara.
“Investigation is on. Danish is being considered under the J&K Surrendered Militants Rehabilitation Policy,” a police official said.
Castigating New Delhi for pursuing “suppressive and oppressive” policies, HM Chief, Syed Saahuddin, said, “India has painted every nook and cranny of Kashmir with blood.”
“India has been butchering people of Kashmir from 70 years. On daily basis, innocent people are being killed in Valley,” he said.
Syed Salahuddin said that India has been using “all tactics to hide its dejected face”. “India has to come on its knees before the brave freedom loving people of Kashmir who will breathe in free air one day,” he said.
Hizb Deputy Chief said, “India is fighting a losing battle and that is why it is using different tactics to malign the image of militants.”
