Farooq Ahmed Dar

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Farooq Ahmed Dar
فاروق احمد ڈار
Born
Farooq Ahmed Dar

(1973-01-01) 1 January 1973 (age 53)
Srinagar, J&K, India[1]
NationalityIndian
Other namesBitta Karate
CitizenshipPakistani (alleged)
Years active1990-date
OrganizationJammu Kashmir Liberation Front
Known forKilling of Kashmiri Hindus during ethnic cleansing in 1990.
Criminal charge(s)Violation of Public Safety Act.
Criminal penaltyPending
Criminal statusarrested and detained by NIA
Spouse(s)Assbah Arzoomand Khan
Parent(s)
  • Fatima (mother)

Farooq Ahmed Dar (Urdu: فاروق احمد ڈار‎), also known by his nom de guerre Bitta Karate, is the current chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and a former militant.

Dar has been accused of and has admitted to murdering multiple Kashmiri Pandits during their 1990 exodus.[2][3][4][5] He however later claimed that he hadn't killed any Pandits and that the statement was made under duress.[6] He was imprisoned from 1990 until 2006 under terrorism-related charges before being released on bail. He was arrested again in 2019 for financing terrorism.[7]

Early life

Dar was born on 1 January 1973 in the Guru Bazar neighbourhood of the city of Srinagar[1] in the Kashmir Valley of the Jammu and Kashmir state, India into a Kashmiri Muslim family of the Dar clan. While "Bitta" was his pet name, he was given the suffix "Karate" because of his mastery in martial arts. Dar used to work for his family business until he left his home to become a terrorist in his early 20s. Within no time he became the synonym of terrorism in the valley.[8]

Career in militancy

1988 armed training in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

In 1988, Farooq Ahmed Dar was taken across the LoC to Pakistan-administered Kashmir by the then JKLF chief commander Ashfaq Majeed Wani for armed training. Dar was blindfolded and then taken to Pakistan occupied Kashmir along with other "trainees" where they received 32-day armed training in state-sponsored Pakistani militant training camp.

Involvement in the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus

Main article: Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus

In the 1990s, Farooq Ahmad Dar spread terror in the valley following his return from arms training in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He was imprisoned for killing and ethinically cleansing Kashmiri Pandits.[9] His first victim was a young businessman, Satish Kumar Tickoo, who was also his close friend. Tickoo was shot by Dar in front of his house.[10] He apparently used to get orders (for execution) from Ashfaq Majeed Wani or other superiors in the JKLF. Dar would also walk armed on the streets of Srinagar in search of Kashmiri Hindus and on spotting, he would take out his pistol and shoot at them.[11][10] He used pistols to kill civilians and AK-47 to attack and fire at Indian Security Forces. He admitted to killing at least 20 people in 1990 during the insurgency.[4] The convener of Panun Kashmir has accused him of publicly proclaiming killing 42 Hindus.[5] Dar himself had stated in a video that he had killed at least 20 Kashmiri Hindus.[12] He however later claimed that he hadn't killed any Pandits and that the statement was made under duress.[13]

1990 arrest

Farooq Ahmed Dar, along with two of his associates, was arrested by Border Security Force on 22 June 1990 from Srinagar. He was arrested and detained under the Public Safety Act and had 19 terrorism related cases against him. He remained under detention for 16 years and was released on indefinite bail in October 2006. Dar was detained in various prisons across India. He served time in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu, District Jail in Kathua, Central Jail in Jodhpur, Central Jail in Agra etc.[5][8][10][11][14]

2006 indefinite bail and release

On 23 October 2006, a court enforcing Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA court) in Jammu granted bail to Dar and he was handed over to his family on 25 October 2006.[11][14] He was initially granted bail for four months against a bail bond and personal surety of ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.6 lakh or US$3,624.10 in 2019) each. Dar was released after spending 16 years in jail. His detention under the Public Safety Act was quashed by the Supreme Court of India before his release from jail. His release was condemned by several Kashmiri Pandit organizations. Dar got a warm reception from his supporters in Kashmir. Large number of supporters assembled at his house where flower petals and confetti was showered on him. Then, Dar was taken out in a procession to an Eidgah where prayers were offered.[5][14]

While dictating the verdict, the TADA court judge, Justice Wani remarked:

The court is aware of the fact that the allegations against the accused are of serious nature and carry a punishment of death sentence or life imprisonment but the fact is that the prosecution has shown total disinterest in arguing the case.[11]

2006-2019 political career

Upon release from detention, Dar joined the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (R) where he worked his way up to become its chairman.

2019 arrest and detention in terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him again in 2019 on charges of terror funding.[7] NIA has charged Dar, Sayeed Salahudeen, and others of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.[7] His co-accused is the Hizbul Mujahideen's head Sayeed Salahudeen.[7] The Hizbul Mujahideen has been designated as a terrorist group by India,[15] the European Union,[16] and the United States,[17] yet continues to operate freely within Pakistan.[18] Sayeed Salahudeen is on India's NIA Most Wanted list,[19] and has been named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department Of State.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Srinagar: summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India". britannica.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  2. ↑ Pandita, Rahul (2013). Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits. Random House India. pp. 45–49. ISBN 978-81-8400-390-1. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2016 – via books.google.com.
  3. ↑ JKLF Chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar admits to killing 20 innocent Kashmiri Pandits, with subtitles. WildFilmsIndia. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits". India Today. Ist. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2019. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 27 November 2021 suggested (help)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "'Butcher of Pandits' back in Kashmir hometown". DNA India. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "India Today impact: NIA moves Hurriyat leaders 'Bitta Karate', 'Ghazi Baba' to unknown location for interrogation". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Separatist leaders arrested for terror funding accuse NIA of delaying case". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The Verdict Violated". kashmirnewz.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits". IndiaToday. Ist. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2019. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 27 November 2021 suggested (help)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "A Cry For Kashmiri Pandits From Down South". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "The Pathology of Oversight". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2017. {{cite magazine}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 27 November 2021 suggested (help)
  13. ↑ "India Today impact: NIA moves Hurriyat leaders 'Bitta Karate', 'Ghazi Baba' to unknown location for interrogation". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Warm reception to Bitta Karate in Srinagar on his release". oneindia.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Banned Organisations". Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2430 of 21 December 2015". Official Journal of the European Union. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "US adds 4 Indian outfits to terror list". Rediff News. 30 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2015. See also
  18. ↑ Kiessling, Hein. Faith, Unity, Discipline: The Inter-Service-Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781849048637. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  19. ↑ Bloeria, S. S., "Conflict overview", in V. R. Raghavan (ed.), Conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir: Impact on Polity, Society and Economy, Vij Books India Pvt. Ltd., pp. 15–56, ISBN 978-93-82573-33-3, archived from the original on 21 January 2022
  20. ↑ "State Department Terrorist Designations of Mohammad Yusuf Shah AKA Syed Salahuddin". U.S. Department of State Press Release. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "India stands vindicated as US names Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin 'global terrorist'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2017.

Sources

  • Bloeria, S. S., "Conflict overview", in V. R. Raghavan (ed.), Conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir: Impact on Polity, Society and Economy, Vij Books India Pvt. Ltd., pp. 15–56, ISBN 978-93-82573-33-3, archived from the original on 21 January 2022
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