Father of seven killed in Kupwara blast
Hizb ‘District Commander’ had 7 civilian killings on his head

AHMED ALI FAYYAZ

SRINAGAR, Jan 12: A middle-aged civilian, who happened to be the father of seven children, has died in a mysterious explosion in Kupwara district. Recovery of a military helmet from the spot has led to allegations of cold murder against Army even as the deceased was known for his connections with both, security forces as well as militants. Meanwhile, one-odd militant killed in the 30-hour-long encounter in Pulwama district has turned out to be the “District Commander” of Hizbul Mujahideen, Riyaz Deedar, who had at least seven murder cases on his head in south Kashmir.

Informed sources in North Kashmir said that residents of Boninar and several other villages in Kalaroos area of Kupwara head a blast at around 2230 hours last night. Nobody dared to come out of home for the whole night due to fear of security forces and militants. In the morning today, residents of Boninar spotted the dead body of fellow villager, Mohammad Lateef Malik S/o Mohammad Hussain Malik, just 300 metres from his home. With splinter and burn injuries on his body, 52-year-old Malik seemed to have died in a grenade blast.

Police and Army rushed to the spot and recovered smithereens of tinted glasses of a vehicle, some AK-47 rounds and a military helmet. Nature of the recovery led to allegations of the ‘cold blooded murder’ against Army. Hundreds of people gathered and put up a demonstration while demanding registration of a murder case against a local camp of Army. Deputy Commissioner, Shaukat Ahmed Mir, and SSP, Uttam Chand, assured them that Police would conduct an investigation and necessary action under law would be initiated against anybody to be found involved in causing the blast and killing a civilian.

Sources said that for his alleged militant connections, different units of security forces and Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police had arrested Malik in the past. After remaining in jail for some time, he had been released. Thereafter, he maintained open contact with Army and Police. A senior official confirmed that Malik had worked as a source with security forces and helped them in conducting some counter-insurgency operations. However, this could not be confirmed from independent sources.

Family members and residents said that Malik had gone to the district headquarters of Kupwara in connection with the hearing of a case at the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate. Quoting unnamed eyewitnesses, they said that Malik had boarded a red colour Tata Sumo at around 1630 hours at Kupwara, most likely to travel back to his home. However, he did not turn up at his home till this morning when his dead body was spotted in the periphery of his village.

Sources said that father of two married daughters, four unmarried daughters and one twice married son, working at a hotel in Delhi, Malik had gone to the court of CJM Kupwara to pursue a suit of maintenance against his son. His already married son had kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman which led to registration of an FIR against him under sections 366 and 376 RPC. However, under the pressure of local population, he married the victim but later divorced her in a few months. Claiming right to sustenance, she filed against him a maintenance suit which was listed for hearing on Monday.

SSP Kupwara, Uttam Chand, told Early Times that Police had taken cognizance and subsequently registered a murder case against unidentified persons. He said that inspite of the recovery of some ammunition and a military helmet, it was a matter of investigation and there was immediately no prima facie evidence against any particular individual or agency. He said that Malik had maintained links with security forces as well as militants. Whosoever found involved, would be dealt with under law, SSP said.

Meanwhile, informed sources in South Kashmir said that the overnight gunbattle at Abhama village of Kellar in Pulwama-Shopian belt ended in the afternoon today with the death of one-odd militant who had been trapped at the residential house of one Abdul Hameed Sheikh last evening. He was identified as Riyaz Deedar. Special Operations Group (SOG) of District Police Pulwama and troops of a unit of Rashtriya Rifles 53 Bn carried out the operation and killed the militant in a 30-hour-long gunbattle without destroying the target house. Officials claimed that there was no collateral damage.

Sources said that the recoveries from the slain militant’s possession included a hit list which had names of about a dozen of females and other persons suspected to be as SOG’s and Army’s counter-insurgent sources.

SSP Pulwama, Syed Kifayat Hyder, told Early Times that Hizbul Mujahideen had appointed Riyaz Deedar as its “District Commander” after Rehman Gorsai got killed in an encounter with security forces in December 2009. Gorsai had become “District Commander” when forces had eliminated dreaded militant and a top ranking commander Saquib last year. Riyaz was known for his proximity to Hizbul Mujahideen’s South Kashmir “Divisional Commander”, Fayaz Pir.

SSP said that Riyaz Deedar was involved in a number of civilian killings. As many as seven murder cases stood registered against him with Rajpora and Kellar Police Stations. He said that the slain militant had been directly involved in the killing of Sheeraza of Kellar over a month ago besides three to four girls and a child, all gunned down in the last seven months in Pulwama-Shopian belt. According to residents, it was he who had kidnapped and killed one Mohammad Yusuf Wagay whose dead body had not been recovered till date. Even yesterday, he had snatched away mobile phones of some women in the village and threatened to eliminate them.

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