Founder of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind Zakir Musa killed, laid to rest in Tral

Srinagar, May 24 (KNS): The chief of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa was killed in a gunfight that raged between forces and militants in Dadsara area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Zakir as per police records was earlier affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and later floated his own outfit namely ‘Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH)’.

Police said that a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched at Batpora in Dadsara area of Awantipora in Pulwama district following the specific inputs about the presence of militants there.

They said during the search, the hiding militant fired upon the search party, which was retaliated, thus leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and the body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The slain militant was identified as Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Musa of Noorpora Tral.

According to the police records, “Zakir had a long history of crime records since 2013. He was initially associated with HM then he floated new outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). He was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.”

As per police records, Zakir was involved in planning and executing series of attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities, adding that several cases were registered against him.

Zakir was involved in case FIR No 126/2014 pertaining to the grenade attack on CISF at Noorpora Check, Case FIR No 135/2014 pertaining to abduction and killing of a civilian Firdous Ahmad Hurrah of Dusoo Pulwama, Case FIR No. 24/2015 pertaining to inciting youth for activities, Case FIR No. 39/2016 pertaining to killing of a civilian lady Hameed Bano of Noorpora, Case FIR No. 190/2016 pertaining to snatching of weapons from security forces, Case FIR No. 165/2016 pertaining to arson act on Govt Higher Secondary School Dadsara, Case FIR No. 170/2016 pertaining to anti-National activities, Case FIR No. 80/2017 pertaining to other activities, Case FIR No. 139/2017 pertaining to bank dacoity at J&K Bank Noorpora, Case FIR No. 50/2018 pertaining to raising of funds for activities.

Besides, several other cases were registered against him pertaining to attacks and civilian atrocities in the area, police said.

Further, police said that Zakir was declared as pro-claimed offender by NIA special court Mohali Punjab on 2nd May, 2019 in NIA case RC-39/2018/NIA/DLI. The case pertains to his involvement in serial blasts at Jalandhar Punjab on 14th September, 2018 for which case FIR No. 163/2018 was registered at Police Station Maqsudan Jalandhar. The investigation of the said case was later taken by NIA, police said.

Meanwhile, police said incriminating materials including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. “Police has registered a case and all these materials have been taken in the case records for the purpose of investigation and to probe their complicity in other cases,” police said.

Meanwhile, amid massive sloganeering, the slain militant commander was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Noorpora Tral on Friday.

“There was a massive throng at his native village,” witnesses said, adding that following funeral prayers, Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Moosa was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard.

Reports said that people in large number from various parts of Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian districts reached Noorpora Tral, despite curbs and rains to participate in the last rites of Musa.

Meanwhile, clashes also erupted between youth and forces at various places throughout the day. (KNS) 

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